OTTAWA â Liberal cabinet minister Catherine McKenna said sheâs 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 âuncomfortableâ then so be it.
âWell Iâm a woman in politics, and Iâm just going to own it,â she said in an interview on CTVâs Question Period airing Sunday. âOne thing Iâve learned in this job is that you have to keep it real, you have to talk like a real person.â
flipping through a hand-made calendar her kids gifted her while she reflected on how campaign âpolitics is hard sometimes, itâs true, but it really matters.â
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.
âI also think we can do better and I think thatâs 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.â
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 âinfrastructure builtâ while being cognizant of environment concerns.
One of the many responsibilities on her plate â which sheâll share with other ministers like Natural Resources Minister Seamus OâRegan and new Environment Minister Johnathan Wilkinson â is the construction of the Trans Mountain pipeline.
âIâm 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.â
Speaking on Bill C-69, which overhauls the environmental assessment review process for new infrastructure projects, McKenna said the legislation wouldnât 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 âimplementationâ of the law.
âWe consulted for three years on this legislation, including with industry, many industry players think itâs a lot better. But I do agree, so letâs just step back. Do we need to get to a better place with the people of Saskatchewan and Alberta? Absolutely.â
In terms of what projects sheâs most looking forward to tackling, McKenna said sheâs got her sights set on Toronto.
âI think thereâs some real momentum around the metro line and some interest for that,â she said, adding âIâve been on the job one day, so Iâm not going to commit to something yet, but donât worry Iâm on it.â