FREDERICTON — Lois Corbett, Executive Director of the Conservation Council of New Brunswick, issued the following statement upon the swearing-in of the new prime minister and federal cabinet ministers:
“We congratulate the new Prime Minster of Canada and the federal cabinet ministers and we commend the early commitment this government has signaled toward meaningful action on climate protection and clean job creation.
We welcome Catherine McKenna as she takes the role of Minister of Environment and Climate Change. The Minister’s experience in legal and international affairs as well as leadership in nonprofit organizations will serve our country well at the upcoming climate change negotiations in Paris.
We applaud the government’s intention to play a constructive role during the negotiations and to work with provinces and territories to reduce carbon pollution in our communities. The fact that climate change was included in Minister McKenna’s title is a strong statement on how serious this federal government is taking the need for meaningful climate action.
We welcome Lawrence MacAulay in his new capacity as Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food. We are excited and encouraged for what this could mean for strengthening local food programs in the Atlantic region.
We welcome Hunter Tootoo as the new Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard. Our Fundy Baykeeper, in particular, looks forward to working with Minister Tootoo on keeping Canada’s coastal waters healthy and beautiful.
We congratulate Dominic LeBlanc, New Brunswick MP for Beausejour, and wish him well on his challenging new position as Government House Leader.
We look forward to working with and supporting our new federal ministers as they tackle climate change solutions and empower communities with the tools they need to build robust economies founded on clean energy and local food, and sustainable marine and freshwater systems.”
Read the cabinet ministers mandate letters here.
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The Conservation Council of New Brunswick
Established in 1969, the Conservation Council of New Brunswick has remained the province’s leading public advocate for environmental protection. A member of the UN’s Global 500 Roll of Honour, we work to find practical solutions to help families and citizens, educators, governments and businesses protect the air we breathe, the water we drink, the precious marine ecosystem and the land, including the forest, that support us.
For more information or to arrange an interview, contact:
Jon MacNeill, communications officer, 458-8748 | 261-1353 | jon.macneill@conservationcouncil.ca