Federal Environment and Climate Minister Catherine McKenna is pushing back on Conservative foreign affairs critic Erin O’Toole, after O’Toole accused the government of “virtue signalling” with its effort to introduce climate change, environmental protection, Indigenous rights, and gender equity into NAFTA negotiations with the United States and Mexico.
“So done with ridiculous language from #CPC like ‘virtue signalling,'” McKenna tweeted. “We will continue to stand up for Canadian values at home & abroad.”
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On her Facebook page, McKenna noted it was the Conservative government of Brian Mulroney that originally negotiated NAFTA with a parallel environment agreement.
“We are currently witnessing the largest forest fire in British Columbia’s history, the Atlantic Ocean recording record temperatures, and the second flood of the century in 12 months in Windsor,” she wrote. “And the Conservatives are still saying that the environment and the economy can be separated! Climate change is real and environmental protection is essential. It is time for the Conservatives to understand the message.”
A spokesperson for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told CP the Facebook post “was the official government response to O’Toole,” Canadian Press reports.
