Following through on a campaign promise, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has charged Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Navdeep Bains with creating a new Canadian Consumer Advocate.

The pledge was included in the mandate letters released December 13. Trudeau’s letter to Bains includes working “to ensure a single point of contact for people who need help with federally regulated banking, telecom or transportation-related complaints. Ensure that complaints are reviewed and, if founded, that appropriate remedies and penalties can be imposed.”

The letter adds that Bains should use the support of other cabinet members, including the Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance Mona Fortier and Minister of Seniors Deb Schulte.

The Canadian Consumer Advocate position was part of the Liberal campaign platform. Bains represents the Mississauga-Malton riding. In the new cabinet, Bains retains the innovation and science responsibility, but his ministry’s name has been altered to include “industry”.

The mandate letter contains 22 enumerated priorities for the ministry, including a 25 per cent reduction in the cost of cellular phone bills, making internet access universal by 2030 and revising the Copyright Act.