By Pepper Parr
July 20th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
If you don’t live in Burlington, your chances of getting through to Burlington MP Karina Gould by email are pretty slim.
The following was sent to an individual we thought lived in Burlington. He may have failed to give his address; nevertheless, this is what he got:
Thank you for contacting the office of the Hon. Karina Gould, Member of Parliament for Burlington. This message is to confirm that your email has been received.
Please note that we are currently experiencing a high volume of inquiries. Our priority is to respond to constituents who reside within the riding of Burlington. If you have not already done so, please include your full address and postal code so we can confirm that you live in the riding and better assist you.
If you are unsure who your Member of Parliament is, you can find that information by entering your postal code at: www.ourcommons.ca/members/en
Our office is open Monday to Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. We appreciate your patience and will respond as soon as possible.
In case of an emergency or urgent situation, you can also contact the following services:
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- Emergencies – 911
- Halton Region – 311
- Service Canada — 1 800 622 6232
- CPP / OAS —1 800 277-9914
- Employment Insurance —1 800 206 7218
- CRA — 1-800 959 8281
- Immigration— 1 888 242 2100
- Passport Canada —1 800 567 6868
- Halton Regional Police – 905-825-4777
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Our office isn’t located in Burlington -we will reach out by telephone and see if we can get a clearer understanding of just what the notice sent out means.
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So the MP office is there to serve you 31 1/2 hours a week. Nice work if you can get it. No after hours for anyone who has a 5 day a week 7 to 3 or 8 to 4 job or 3 to 11 or 11 to 7 am job.
I learned that Karina does not even see the emails until her staff decides that she should.
I rarely, if ever, contact her office, but the last time I did I called her office and spoke to her assistant. I told her that I had sent an email and I needed Karina to see it because I had not received a reply.
I was told ” that they would find my email and direct it to Karina”.
No one should have to do this to hear back from their elected representative.
Karina Gould’s email seems eminently reasonable. She openly states she give priority to inquiries from Burlington residents (her constituents). That is exactly how it should be. Who possibly could argue with that?
Who would write to any public official or their staff to address a question or concern without including their name and address. That is basic information that without question should be provided.
The article does not say if the person provided their address and whether Karina Gould was responsive.
Not Surprised!
I have written to Karina Gould on a couple of occassions with specific questions over the last few years, and this has always been her automatic reply each time I have contacted her.
Then, you wait multiple weeks or months before you get any kind of a response. And, if and when you do get a response, its a form letter by email from staff without any answers to your questions!