West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country MP Pam Goldsmith-Jones has been named a Parliamentary Secretary, a promotion widely seen as a stepping stone to a cabinet portfolio.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed Goldsmith-Jones as Parliament Secretary to Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion just before MPs returned to the House of Commons last week. She becomes one of 35 Liberal MPs who will work with ministers on various aspects of their portfolios.
In a statement announcing the appointment, Dion said, “as a former Mayor of West Vancouver and acknowledged environmental champion, Ms. Goldsmith-Jones’ experience will be vital as we work hand-in-hand to deliver on my full mandate, particularly the challenge of revitalizing Canada’s public diplomacy and stakeholder engagement, and working alongside the Minister of Environment and Climate Change.”
The bio released by the Prime Minister’s office highlights Goldsmith-Jones’ history “as a bridge-builder, bringing diverse views together through her open and inclusive approach.”
For her part, Goldsmith-Jones said she looks forward to building relationships with colleagues in the House of Commons and with Canada’s partners abroad.
Speaking after the Dec. 4 Throne Speech, she said her instructions to work with the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and her Parliamentary Secretary Jonathan Wilkinson (MP for North Vancouver) is a signal that those two are linked as part of who Canada is in the world.
“I think it’s quite extraordinary,” she added.
