Catherine McKenna

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The Honourable
Catherine McKenna
PC MP
Catherine McKenna 2016.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 53)
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Political party Liberal
Spouse(s) Scott Gilmore[1]
Children 3
Residence The Glebe, Ottawa, Ontario
Alma mater
Profession lawyer
Religion Roman Catholic
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. She was appointed as Minister of Environment and Climate Change in the Cabinet, headed by Justin Trudeau, on November 4, 2015.[2]

Career

Legal career

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 was a senior negotiator with the United Nations peacekeeping mission in East Timor which culminated in the Timor Sea Treaty providing for the joint exploitation of petroleum resources in a part of the Timor Sea.[5] She is also a lecturer at the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs.[3]

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

Teaching

McKenna has 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

File:Catherine McKenna.JPG
McKenna on November 4, 2015, shortly before being sworn in to cabinet.
File:Heyman McCarthy and McKenna.jpg
McKenna with Bruce Heyman and Gina McCarthy in 2016.

In the 2015 federal election, McKenna defeated longtime New Democratic Party (NDP) Member of Parliament (MP) Paul Dewar in the riding of Ottawa Centre.[8] McKenna said that she knocked on 100,000 doors during her 522 days as a candidate.[9] McKenna was elected with 43% of the votes compared to Dewar's 38%.[10] 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]

McKenna is one of 50 women elected to the Liberal caucus.[9]

Minister of Environment and Climate Change

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 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris.[12]

Personal life

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.[13][14][15] On August 14, 1999, McKenna married entrepreneur and writer Scott Gilmore, with whom she lives since 2002 in the Glebe, Ottawa.[1][13] They have two daughters and one son.[13]

Community involvement

McKenna 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

McKenna was, before entering politics, the Executive Director of Level, a charity which she co-founded.[16] 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.[17] McKenna is also known for her Dare to Dream program which mentors and inspires Aboriginal students through justice education and outreach activities by Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal lawyers. The program was piloted in Toronto and has now expanded to Calgary and Ottawa.[16]

Education

After graduating from École élémentaire catholique Notre-Dame (her father insisted that all his children be bilingual despite not knowing any French himself)[13] and then Saint Mary Catholic Secondary School[14] 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, McKenna was captain of the national champion varsity swim team. She continues to train and compete with the National Capital YMCA Masters Swim Team.[16]

Electoral record

Canadian federal election, 2015: Ottawa Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ∆% Expenditures
Liberal Catherine Mary McKenna 32,111 42.66 +22.54 –
New Democratic Paul Dewar 29,098 38.54 -13.62 –
Conservative Damian Konstantinakos 10,943 14.49 -7.14 –
Green Tom Milroy 2,246 2.97 -2.06 –
Libertarian Dean T. Harris 551 0.73 – –
Rhinoceros Conrad Lukawski 167 0.22 – –
Marijuana John Andrew Omowole Akpata 160 0.21 – –
Communist Stuart Ryan 124 0.16 – –
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[18][19][20]

References

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External links

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
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  18. ↑ Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Ottawa Centre, 30 September 2015
  19. ↑ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates
  20. ↑ [1]
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