‘Politics is about people’: Karina Gould lays out Liberal Leadership bid

Liberal Leadership Candidate Karina Gould speaks with Alberta Primetime host Michael Higgins about her bid to head up the party.

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Michael Higgins: Many have the threat of tariffs, and talk of annexation, front of mind as they look in on this Liberal leadership race. What approach would you take in dealing directly with Donald Trump?

Karina Gould: This is what’s on top of every Canadian’s mind right now. What we’re hearing from south of the border, the rhetoric, the threats, are just completely unacceptable. I have been so proud of how Canadians have stood united and stood together, and that is the approach that I would take as well.

We need a Team Canada approach that is strong, that is united, but that is smart and strategic. We know that the only thing that Donald Trump responds to is strength, and what we saw a couple of weeks ago, when Canada stood firm and we didn’t back down, Trump did. So that is exactly what we need to keep doing.

We need to make sure that everything is on the table and that we will not back down in the face of these completely inappropriate threats, and to be very clear with Mr. Trump that our sovereignty is not up for negotiation. It is not on the table.

I have seen how Canadians have stood so strongly together, and I’m so proud of how Canadians across this country have reacted.

MH: Let’s put the focus on Canada. Your party hasn’t won a lot of favour here in our province. Liberal government policy is widely viewed here as anti-resource, unconstitutional, working against Alberta interests.

As Liberal leader, what would you offer Albertans to counter that narrative?

KG: I’m in Regina today, but I was in Calgary, Red Deer and Edmonton a couple of days ago. What I heard from folks in Alberta was how important it is to ensure that Alberta’s voice is heard in Ottawa, that there is a recognition and appreciation of what Alberta and Albertans provide for Canada, and that their voices and their economic activities matter.

I think, particularly when we’re facing these threats from south of the border, making sure that we have energy security here in Canada is paramount. I think we need to have a very serious national discussion on what that looks like.

One of the things that I talked about in Edmonton was refining capacity here in Canada. We have so much to offer, Albertans have so much to offer Canada and the world. So as prime minister, my government would make sure that we have a strong place for Alberta within the federation, and a deep appreciation for what Albertans provide Canadians.

MH: On the policy front, you’ve promised a temporary GST cut to four per cent. What programs or services would you put on the chopping block to account for the drop in government revenue?

KG: What I proposed at the same time was to increase corporate taxes on the richest corporations, so the corporations that earn over $500 million in profit a year, to increase their corporate taxes from 15 to 17 per cent so that we can save all Canadians in the GST cut.

What I think is important about that is that when it comes to the GST, low and no-income Canadians pay disproportionately more of their resources, when it comes to the GST, than higher income Canadians. That’s average savings of $700 to $750 a year. I want to offer every single Canadian a cut in the GST while increasing corporate taxes on the very wealthiest Canadian companies.

MH: What approach do you plan to bring to the upcoming debates? How will you differentiate yourself from the other leadership candidates?

KG: I have been in parliament for 10 years and I am somebody who has been able to debate very effectively in the House of Commons. I’m looking forward to these debates, to putting my ideas on the table, to demonstrating that as a politician, as a leader in the government, as a leader of the country, I would put people first.

For me, it’s not about points on a graph. It’s about how do our policies impact everyday Canadians? How as a government, how as a prime minister, can I help Canadians make ends meet and ensure that the very real issues they’re dealing with, affordability housing, the cost of groceries, the things that they need to do every single day, that I am able, and we are able as a country, to make life better for Canadians.

For me, politics is about people. It’s about listening to what is important for them and ensuring that we have policies that are meeting the moment. So that’s one of the things that I think I bring to the table, and it’s one of the things that I think is important for politics today.

I think Canadians want somebody who they can trust with the challenges that they have and deliver real solutions to making life better for Canadians.

MH: Mark Carney, who many peg as the front runner. What makes you the better choice to become prime minister in the short term, and then to lead the Liberal Party into the next election?

KG: I think it’s terrific that there are three excellent candidates who are running for the leadership of the Liberal Party. I think it speaks to the strength and the diversity in the brand that we have as Liberals.

My approach has always been a grassroots politician. It’s about being in people’s living rooms and talking to them about what the issues are, being in coffee shops in our community, being on the main street and understanding what Canadians are going through.

I’m a mom of two small children, so I know what it’s like to live every single day and try to balance all of the things that we have to balance as families. For me, that’s what politics is about. It’s about people, and it’s about really developing policies that are going to meet the needs of people today.

I’m not thinking about the past, I’m thinking about today and about the future and building the best future that we have for our country and for Canadians.