Nathalie Provost secretary of State for Nature

Nathalie Provost, Member of Parliament for Châteauguay-Les Jardins-de-Napierville, says she is “very honored” and “privileged” to have been appointed Secretary of State for Nature following the swearing-in of the Cabinet on May 13. This new challenge fits well with her background as an engineer who grew up in a rural community.

Translation Amanda Bennett

“I worked at the Ministry of the Environment for 10 years. I am a country girl. For me, this is a wonderful challenge,” she said.

She learned about her role in Parliament less than 48 hours before being appointed. Nathalie Provost explained that she will be called upon to work with various ministries to “create pathways.” This will include the Ministry of Canadian Heritage, followed by the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Fisheries and Oceans, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Agri-Food.

The MP sees her appointment as a means of increasing access to issues in her riding through “an extremely powerful network of influence.”

Local issues will be addressed in a broader manner. “I have already spoken with Jacques Ramsay and my colleagues. We will work as a team. Issues in Châteauguay-Les Jardins-de-Napierville will be better addressed if we look at them from a regional perspective,” she said, adding that she will not relinquish her responsibilities as a member of Parliament.

A survivor of the 1989 Polytechnique massacre in Montreal, the gun control activist confided that progress on the issue rests on the shoulders of her colleagues in the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Public Services and Procurement. “I don't think Mr. Carney has forgotten any of the promises he made just a month ago,” she said.

How will she manage to juggle her roles as MP and Secretary of State? Ms. Provost is counting on teamwork. She wants to build a team whose members are familiar with the issues in the riding.

For now, Nathalie Provost is taking over the “keys to the office” from outgoing MP Brenda Shanahan. “I have 120 days to decide whether to stay or go elsewhere,” she said. Her goal is to remain “close to all citizens.”