McKenna retiring from politics, creates possible opening for Mark Carney

Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna has decided not to seek re-election.

Her surprise decision could become a launching pad for former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney should he decide to run for the Liberals in the next election.

McKenna has held Ottawa Centre, a riding that encompasses Parliament Hill, since 2015, when she won it away from the New Democrats.

She says over the weekend, she informed the prime minister and the president of the Liberal party of her intention not to run again.

McKenna -- the minister of Infrastructure and Communities -- says living through COVID-19 through a very long year made her step back and reflect on what matters to her most.

She says she wants to spend more time with her three children and fight for climate change.

McKenna says she wants to spend her working hours helping to protect the only planet we have.