Canadian government minister Catherine McKenna, who has spent six years shaping Canada’s climate policies, is planning to step down from parliament at the next election.
Announcing her decision on Monday, she said: “Like many Canadians, living through Covid19 over a very long year, made me step back and reflect on what matters to me most. And it’s two things. My kids and climate change.”
She added: “This is a critical year for climate action in the most important decade that will decide whether we can save the only planet we have. I want to spend my working hours helping to make sure that we do.”
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McKenna was environment minister between 2015 and 2019 before becoming infrastructure and communities minister.
Domestically, she introduced carbon pricing against strong opposition from provincial governments, and stricter environmental standards for big infrastructure projects – but held the government line in support of oil pipeline expansion.
Internationally, she signed the Paris Agreement and jointly spearheaded the Powering Past Coal Alliance with the UK’s Claire O’Neill (then Perry).
Source: Climate Home News
