Liberal Minister Steps Down Over Pipeline Controversy
Steven Guilbeault, the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and a former Greenpeace activist, announced his resignation from Prime Minister Mark Carney's cabinet on Thursday, November 27, 2025. The decision came immediately after the federal government signed a memorandum of understanding with Alberta to advance a major oil pipeline project to the West Coast.
The 55-year-old Liberal MP, who also served as Carney's Quebec lieutenant representing the Montreal riding of Laurier—Sainte-Marie, stated he submitted his resignation with great sadness but could not in good conscience support the new federal-Alberta agreement.
Environmental Principles Clash with Government Policy
In a statement posted on social media platform X, Guilbeault explained that his entry into politics was fundamentally motivated by the fight against climate change and environmental protection. He listed what he described as a decade of environmental milestones during his political career.
However, Guilbeault expressed strong opposition to the memorandum signed in Calgary, which establishes cooperation between Ottawa and Alberta on major infrastructure projects, including a pipeline corridor to the West Coast. He highlighted several specific concerns about the agreement.
First, there was no consultation with the Indigenous nations of British Columbia's West Coast or with the provincial government, both of whom would be significantly affected by this project, he wrote.
Guilbeault also warned that a pipeline to the West Coast would have major environmental impacts, particularly as it could cross the Great Bear Rainforest. He argued the project would contribute to a significant increase in climate pollution and move Canada further away from its greenhouse gas reduction targets.
Broader Environmental Concerns Cited
The minister raised additional alarms about the prospect of lifting the long-standing tanker moratorium on the northern British Columbia coast. He stated this would significantly increase the risk of accidents in a region where navigation is highly dangerous.
Furthermore, Guilbeault criticized the proposed exemption for Alberta from federal Clean Electricity Regulations in exchange for stricter industrial carbon-pricing rules. We cannot hope to decarbonize our economy without decarbonizing the electricity sector, he wrote, calling the proposal a serious mistake.
Despite his cabinet resignation, Guilbeault confirmed he would remain as a Liberal Member of Parliament, continuing to represent his Montreal constituency. The Prime Minister's Office had not issued an immediate response to the resignation as of Thursday evening.
Guilbeault brings a notable background to the controversy, having been arrested years earlier for scaling the CN Tower in an environmental protest during his time as a Greenpeace activist. His resignation marks a significant moment in the Carney government, highlighting the ongoing tension between economic development and environmental protection in Canadian policy.
