Former Toronto mayor David Miller named new head of WWF Canada

Hey, that's cool. Former Toronto mayor David Miller has a new job as the president and CEO of World Wildlife Federation Canada.

WWF Canada, the country's largest conservation organization, made the announcement on Tuesday, one day after Miller was honoured by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities with the 2013 award of excellence.

"I believe that environmental issues are the greatest challenge of our generation," Miller said in a WWF Canada blog post announcing his new role.

"How do we ensure that our planet is not harmed by human caused climate change? How do we protect our natural environment and species at risk? And how do we do this in a way that creates jobs and sustains our economy?

"These are questions that I’ve confronted throughout my career."

That stance is in sharp contrast with Toronto's current mayor, Rob Ford, who drives an SUV, proposed cuts to environmental programs and, oh yeah, doesn't like the idea of Canadian mayors getting together and talking about municipal issues.

Ford now-infamously skipped this year's Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference so he could stay in Toronto and avoid questions about an ongoing crack video scandal.

He did attack councillors who went in his place, however, and was roundly criticized by several mayors who were in attendance.

[ Related: Rob Ford hires new staff, but where are his friends? ]

Back to Miller, who had been a busy guy since stepping out of municipal politics in 2010. He has been working for the law firm Aird and Berlis LLP as Counsel for International Business and Sustainability. He will officially begin his new role at WWF Canada on Sept. 3.

"Canada is an incredible country. Its residents are naturally conservation minded. Canadians understand the value of nature and the meaning of our environmental challenges," Miller writes.

"They are looking for leadership in meeting these challenges, and I believe that WWF is one of the very few organizations in Canada that is, can, and will provide it. That’s why I’m here."