Catherine McKenna

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The Honourable
Catherine McKenna
PC MP
Catherine McKenna.JPG
Minister of the Environment
and Climate Change
Assumed office
November 4, 2015
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Preceded by Leona Aglukkaq
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Ottawa Centre
Assumed office
October 19, 2015
Preceded by Paul Dewar
Personal details
Born (1971-08-05) August 5, 1971 (age 44)
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Political party Liberal
Spouse(s) Scott Gilmore[1]
Residence Ottawa, Ontario
Alma mater
Website catherinemckenna.liberal.ca

Catherine Mary McKenna, PC MP (born August 5, 1971) is a Canadian Liberal politician, who was elected to represent the riding of Ottawa Centre in the House of Commons of Canada in the 2015 federal election and was appointed as Minister of Environment and Climate Change in the present Cabinet, headed by Justin Trudeau, on November 4, 2015.[2]

Career[edit]

Legal career[edit]

McKenna is trained as a human rights and social justice lawyer.[3] McKenna is the co-founder of Canadian Lawyers Abroad, a University of Ottawa-based charity that helps Canadian law students and law firms do pro bono legal work in developing countries.[1][3][4]

McKenna has also provided advice to a United Nations peacekeeping mission in East Timor and was formerly employed by the federal government as a trade policy officer.[5] She is also a lecturer at the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs.[3]

Very accomplished in Canada, she has also practised law at leading firms in Indonesia, focusing on international trade, competition, investment and constitutional issues.In 2002, Catherine joined Stikeman Elliott LLP, working in the areas of competition, trade, and constitutional law.[6] During this time she was also senior counsel on the Right Honourable Antonio Lamer’s review of Canada’s military justice system.[7]

Teaching[edit]

Along with having a well established legal career, McKenna also taught at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and was a board member at the Trudeau Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies.[7]

Federal politics[edit]

In the 2015 federal election, McKenna defeated longtime NDP MP Paul Dewar in the riding of Ottawa Centre.[8] McKenna had campaigned on issues such as reforming the National Capital Commission, funding for a new main branch of the Ottawa Public Library, and opposing the proposed Memorial to the Victims of Communism.[8]

On November 4, 2015, she was sworn in as Minister of the Environment in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's cabinet.[9]

McKenna is one of 50 women elected to the Liberal caucus.[10] As a very representative caucus in this 42nd Parliament,McKenna and the Liberal Party are also is a part of representing of 38 of the 46 visible minorities elected to the House of Commons.

Minister of Environment and Climate Change[edit]

McKenna was appointed Minister of Environment and Climate Change in Justin Trudeau's first cabinet on November 4, 2015.[11] One of her first appearances as Minister of Environment and Climate Change was at the Paris Climate, tackling many very important issues, as a young, rookie MP.[12]

Campaign[edit]

Representing the Ottawa Centre Riding, McKenna had a long, hard campaign laid out for her, in order to defeat Paul Dewar, from the NDP. McKenna said she learned what her constituents want by listening at their doorsteps, proudly declaring that she knocked on 100,000 doors during her 522 days as a candidate.[13] Beating Paul Dewar's 38% support with, 43% support,[14] McKenna successfully won the seat for Ottawa Centre in the House of Commons. Becoming one of the many rookies in the Liberal caucus, McKenna promises to voice the opinions of her constituents highlighting issues such as relocating a controversial memorial to victims of communism; making the National Capital Commission more accountable; providing safer and better cycling and walking pathways; and building more affordable housing.[10]

Personal life[edit]

Born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, she is the eldest of four children of Dr. John McKenna, an Irish dentist and his Quebec-born wife Pat McKenna, who still live in the southwest part of Hamilton.[15][16] McKenna is married to entrepreneur and writer Scott Gilmore, with whom she lives with their two daughters and one son in the Glebe, Ottawa.[1][15]

Community involvement[edit]

While active internationally, Catherine remains a particularly active member of her local community. She is the past Vice-President of the Glebe Community Association and has served as a board member of the Elizabeth Fry Society of Ottawa and the Good Morning Creative Arts and Preschool.[7]

Charity[edit]

As an active humanitarian, McKenna was, until recently, the Executive Director of Level, a charity which she co-founded nearly 10 years ago.[17] Level is described as a catalyst for positive and social change. They believe that uniting the power of people, education and law will lead to a more equitable and just society.[18] As well as the co-founder of Level, McKenna is also known for her innovative Dare to Dream program which mentors and inspires Aboriginal students through justice education and outreach activities by Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal lawyers. The program had a very successful pilot in Toronto and has now expanded to Calgary and Ottawa.[17]

Education[edit]

After graduating from École élémentaire catholique Notre-Dame (a 40-minute drive from her home as her father insisted that all his children be bilingual despite not knowing any French himself)[15] and then Saint Mary Catholic Secondary School[16] in Hamilton, Ontario, McKenna attended the University of Toronto and studied French and International Relations. After graduating from the University of Toronto, she filmed a documentary in Asia, “Real Travels: 60 days in Indonesia.” Catherine then completed a Master’s degree in International Relations at the London School of Economics and a law degree at McGill.[6]

While studying at the University of Toronto, Catherine was captain of the national champion varsity swim team and continues to train and compete with the National Capital YMCA Masters Swim Team.[17]

Electoral record[edit]

Canadian federal election, 2015: Ottawa Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ∆% Expenditures
Liberal Catherine Mary McKenna 32,111 42.6% +22.48 –
New Democratic Paul Dewar 28,988 38.5% -13.66 –
Conservative Damian Konstantinakos 10,943 14.5% -7.13 –
Green Tom Milroy 2,247 3.0% -2.03 –
Libertarian Dean T. Harris 589 0.8% – –
Rhinoceros Conrad Lukawski 170 0.2% – –
Marijuana John Andrew Omowole Akpata 160 0.2% – –
Communist Stuart Ryan 124 0.2% – –
Total valid votes/Expense limit 75,500 100.0     $230,437.59
Total rejected ballots 386 – –
Turnout 75,886 – –
Eligible voters 91,625
Source: Elections Canada[19][20][21]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Small NGO, big results". Ottawa Citizen. 7 January 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2015. 
  2. ^ Sibley, Robert (October 20, 2015). "McKenna upsets Dewar in Ottawa Centre". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved November 4, 2015. 
  3. ^ a b c Wood, Michael (15 August 2015). "Ottawa Centre profile: Liberal candidate Catherine McKenna". Metro News. Retrieved 31 October 2015. 
  4. ^ Taylor-Vaisey, Nick (3 October 2014). "An escalator pitch from Catherine McKenna on Canada in 2020". Maclean's. Retrieved 27 October 2015. 
  5. ^ Siekierski, BJ (3 March 2014). "Catherine McKenna: Trudeau’s candidate in Ottawa Centre?". iPolitics.ca. Retrieved 31 October 2015. 
  6. ^ a b "Catherine McKenna - Master of Global Affairs". Master of Global Affairs (in en-US). Retrieved 2015-11-16. 
  7. ^ a b c Toolkit, Web Experience. "The Honourable Catherine McKenna". Prime Minister of Canada. Retrieved 2015-11-16. 
  8. ^ a b Helmer, Aedan (20 October 2015). "Catherine McKenna scores huge victory in NDP stronghold". Ottawa Sun. Retrieved 31 October 2015. 
  9. ^ "Catherine McKenna, Ottawa Centre MP, named minister of environment and climate change". CBC News. November 4, 2015. Retrieved November 4, 2015. 
  10. ^ a b "http://www.thecanadianpress.com/english/online/OnlineFullStory.aspx?filename=DOR-MNN-CP.b636ba374766411ba8f0aa99474dab7a.CPKEY2008111303&newsitemid=35160252&languageid=1". www.thecanadianpress.com. Retrieved 2015-11-16. 
  11. ^ "Full list of Justin Trudeau's cabinet". CBC News. 
  12. ^ "Environment minister looking for 'ambitious' deal at climate summit". CTVNews. Retrieved 2015-11-17. 
  13. ^ "http://www.thecanadianpress.com/english/online/OnlineFullStory.aspx?filename=DOR-MNN-CP.b636ba374766411ba8f0aa99474dab7a.CPKEY2008111303&newsitemid=35160252&languageid=1". www.thecanadianpress.com. Retrieved 2015-11-16. 
  14. ^ "CBC News: Election 2015 roundup". www.cbc.ca. Retrieved 2015-11-16. 
  15. ^ a b c McKercher, Ian (April 9, 2015). "Catherine McKenna and the future we want for our children". The Glebe Report. Retrieved November 15, 2015. 
  16. ^ a b Peters, Ken (November 4, 2015). "Hamilton women who packed some political punch". Hamilton Spectator. Retrieved November 4, 2015. 
  17. ^ a b c "Biography". catherinemckenna.liberal.ca. Retrieved 2015-11-16. 
  18. ^ Level. "About Level". Level. Retrieved 2015-11-16. 
  19. ^ Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Ottawa Centre, 30 September 2015
  20. ^ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates
  21. ^ [1]

External links[edit]

29th Ministry – Cabinet of Justin Trudeau
Cabinet Post (1)
Predecessor Office Successor
Leona Aglukkaq Minister of the Environment and Climate Change
November 4, 2015-present		 Incumbent
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Catherine_McKenna&oldid=691055429"