Catherine McKenna, Ottawa Centre MP, named minister of environment and climate change

Ottawa Centre MP Catherine McKenna told CBC News that Canada needs to play a "significant role"to tackle global climate change following her appointment asminister ofenvironment and climate change on Wednesday.

McKenna, the only Ottawa-area member of cabinet,walked up toRideauHall Wednesday morning front and centre, nearPrime Minister JustinTrudeauand his wife, as he led his new ministers to be officially sworn in.

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Under the previous Conservative government,LeonaAglukkaqwas minister of the environmentwith no mention of climate change.

"We believe that climate change is a huge problem that we need to be addressing and so we're certainly highlighting this," McKenna told AdrianHarewoodon CBC News at 6.

"This is a really important file to Canadians both theenvironmentbut also tackling climate change and we need to be ambitious and I'm just ready to work really hard and get down to action."

The appointment comes less than a monthbefore theUnited Nations conference on climate change in Paristhat beginsNovember 30. McKenna said Canada will come up with a plan for a "huge reduction in emissions" and will play a "constructive role" with governments.

Ottawa's Minister Catherine McKenna

9 years ago

Duration 3:09

Ottawa Centre MP Catherine McKenna said Canada will come up with a plan for a "huge reduction in emissions" following her appointment as minister of environment and climate change on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day,Prime Minister JustinTrudeau said that "Canada is going to be a strong and positive actor on the world stage," including at the conference in Paris.

"That's why we have a very strong minister not only of the environment, but of environment and climate change, who will be at the heartof thisdiscussion." he said.

Less than 4 weeks until UN talks

As a lawyer, McKenna focused on international trade and competition, according to herwebsite. She was also alegal adviser and negotiator for the UnitedNations peacekeeping mission in East Timor.

Environmental Defence executive director Tim Grayexpressed hope herexperiencewill help her navigate the difficult climate change file in Paris, where countries will try to reacha new agreement to keep global temperatures from rising morethan 2 C.

Paris will be McKenna's first test, Gray said in a statement.

"It's a crucial moment for Canada to arrive with a clear plan that will contribute meaningfully to forging a solution to this critical global issue."

McKenna 'breath of fresh air'

On the local front, Ottawa's Mayor Jim Watson said he has a good working relationship with McKenna, as well asother cabinet ministers in portfolios of interest to the city: Marc GarneauinTransportation and Scott BrisoninTreasury Board.

It's not yet clear which minister will assume responsibility for the National Capital Commission.

With a slimmed down cabinet, Watson was not surprised McKenna was the only Liberal MP from the region to take an oath at Rideau Hall. He noted the region had only one cabinet ministerfrom Ottawa and Gatineau, Pierre Poilievre, whenParliament was dissolved in August.

McKenna beat PaulDewar, the longtime former NDP MP inOttawa Centre, after a campaign that began long before the election was called.

"I've found her to be a breath of fresh air when dealing with a lot of issues that are important to us locally, whether it's the victimsof communism monumentor theuse of U.S. embassyor reform of the NCC,"Watson said of McKenna. "She was certainly aggressivein her campaign and this is a good fit for her."