I promise to be a champion for Calgary in the Liberal cabinet

Being elected to House of Commons has been a humbling experience

I write to you as the first Liberal to represent downtown Calgary on Parliament Hill since 1968.

Even writing those words feels strange.

Things have changed here in Calgary and across Canada. Oil prices continue to lag and our economy is feeling the pinch. More and more Albertans are losing their jobs every day.

Six months ago, Albertans chose change over familiarity in tough times, and elected an NDP government to the legislature.

Now, Canadians have asked the Liberal party and Justin Trudeau to take the lead federally.

But noticing change is not enough — not even close. Change is an empty word unless you back it up with substance, hard work and good public policy.

As Trudeau said on election night, Conservatives are our neighbours.

Well, a glance at the electoral map shows that Conservatives are definitely my neighbours — on all sides.

I’m sure Darshan Kang, Calgary’s other former Liberal MLA turned MP, also knows the feeling. But there’s a certain accountability that naturally comes with being a Liberal in a sea of blue. That’s a good thing.

Let me admit from the outset, it’s not going to be easy to follow in the footsteps of the Calgary Centre MPs before me.

In fact, it’s damn intimidating. Joan Crockatt, Lee Richardson, Joe Clark and Harvie Andre were public servants who served this riding with grace and dedication.

In the main, they were bipartisan moderates who aimed for the greater good, not political wins. I especially never thought of Clark as belonging to a particular party, team or colour. I always thought of him as a guy I just trusted to do the right thing.

It’s that kind of integrity I promise to bring to the House of Commons.

Today, I enter uncharted territory, both as an MP and as a minister.

I am proud to be a part of the cabinet that most represents Canada’s population, both in gender and cultural background. The prime minister’s cabinet is the first to aggressively strive to represent Canada’s diversity.

Being elected to the House of Commons has been a humbling experience.

Being appointed the minister of Veterans Affairs is an added honour. Canada’s veterans have sacrificed so much for our country, and in ways that can never truly be recognized.

I look forward to dedicating my days to them and you.

Let me admit right now that I’m going to make mistakes. Probably many. It will be similar to the steep learning curve you watched me climb as a new MLA. But I am also going to do some good things. I will ensure that Calgary’s voice is heard loud and clear in caucus and cabinet.

I will champion this city. And I will serve each of you, my constituents, with humility and respect. That approach is very much in line with Trudeau’s and the Liberal Party’s support for positive politics. I’ve always believed we get more done working together. I’m a pretty reasonable guy that way.

Calgarians are trailblazers. On election night, you showed the country that they don’t know Alberta — that we won’t be pigeonholed. We are never satisfied with the way things are done simply because they’ve always been done that way.

And so you voted me in to help shake things up in Ottawa. Thank you for that.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support and for taking a chance on me. I won’t let you down.