OTTAWA 鈥� Liberal cabinet minister Catherine McKenna said she鈥檚 not apologizing for an emotional video she posted this week on Twitter speaking about her kids while clearing out her campaign office.
McKenna, who represents the Ottawa Centre riding, said if the video makes people 鈥渦ncomfortable鈥� then so be it.
鈥淲ell I鈥檓 a woman in politics, and I鈥檓 just going to own it,鈥� she said in an interview on CTV鈥檚 Question Period airing Sunday. 鈥淥ne thing I鈥檝e learned in this job is that you have to keep it real, you have to talk like a real person.鈥�
flipping through a hand-made calendar her kids gifted her while she reflected on how campaign 鈥減olitics is hard sometimes, it鈥檚 true, but it really matters.鈥�
As minister of infrastructure and communities, McKenna leaves behind her post as minister of environment where she endured countless personal attacks. Three days after the federal election, McKenna discovered her campaign office with vulgar and sexist graffiti.
鈥淚 also think we can do better and I think that鈥檚 one reflection from this election. The tone, the rhetoric, the approach, the hate, the misinformation, we owe it as politicians and as Canadians to do better.鈥�
PRIORITIES AS INFRASTRUCTURE MINISTER
In the same interview, McKenna also addressed the priorities of her new portfolio which she said include a balance of getting 鈥渋nfrastructure built鈥� while being cognizant of environment concerns.
One of the many responsibilities on her plate 鈥� which she鈥檒l share with other ministers like Natural Resources Minister Seamus O鈥橰egan and new Environment Minister Johnathan Wilkinson 鈥� is the construction of the Trans Mountain pipeline.
鈥淚鈥檓 someone who has always have talked about the importance of the environment and the economy. There is $500 billion of investment, potential investment, in major projects and we need this to work and go ahead.鈥�
Speaking on Bill C-69, which overhauls the environmental assessment review process for new infrastructure projects, McKenna said the legislation wouldn鈥檛 be reopened despite calls for changes from provincial and municipal leaders.
Like her colleagues said this week during pre- and post-cabinet meetings, what matters more is the 鈥渋mplementation鈥� of the law.
鈥淲e consulted for three years on this legislation, including with industry, many industry players think it鈥檚 a lot better. But I do agree, so let鈥檚 just step back. Do we need to get to a better place with the people of Saskatchewan and Alberta? Absolutely.鈥�
In terms of what projects she鈥檚 most looking forward to tackling, McKenna said she鈥檚 got her sights set on Toronto.
鈥淚 think there鈥檚 some real momentum around the metro line and some interest for that,鈥� she said, adding 鈥淚鈥檝e been on the job one day, so I鈥檓 not going to commit to something yet, but don鈥檛 worry I鈥檓 on it.鈥�
