[7][8] However, Cansfield resigned her position as co-chair four months later in order to focus on her run as a candidate in the 2003 provincial election.
[9][10] While there was some perception that Cansfield had centre-right or conservative views,[7][8][11] she opted to run as the Liberal candidate in the riding of Etobicoke Centre in the 2003 election.
Her decision to run for the Liberals rather than the Conservatives may have been driven by her distaste for the way that the Ernie Eves government had dealt with the budget crisis of the Toronto District School Board.
'"[11] She based her campaign on improvements to the education system and handily beat Conservative rival Rose Andrachuk by 4,460 votes.
[12][13] Cansfield was appointed Parliamentary Assistant (PA) to Energy Minister Dwight Duncan on 23 October 2003.
[16] Premier McGuinty appointed Cansfield as PA to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing after the January 2010 cabinet shuffle.