McKenna blames previous Conservative, Liberal governments for climate inaction

Catherine McKenna (Photo from McKenna’s official Facebook page)

OTTAWA – Canada’s new environment minister says past Liberal and Conservative governments have taken too little concrete action on climate change and it’s time for the whole country to step up.

In a speech to the Canada2020 policy conference in Ottawa this morning, Catherine McKenna says the scientific evidence of a warming climate is beyond dispute and that’s going to lead to some difficult policy choices.

McKenna says past governments of ‘both stripes’ have set arbitrary targets for cutting emissions without consulting other levels of government, without policies to achieve them and without the political will to get the job done.

McKenna says it will take a concerted effort by all Canadians to combat climate change but that the time for inaction and denial is past.

Her tough talk was leavened by the assertion that Canada could be a leader in a low carbon economy that opens up new opportunities for jobs and international trade.

McKenna’s morning speech at the conference comes ahead of a panel discussion on climate with Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard.