In a significant political development, Steven Guilbeault has stepped down from his cabinet position following the federal government's decision to sign a memorandum of understanding with Alberta to construct a new oil pipeline to the West Coast. The former environment minister, who currently served as Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture, will continue serving as a Liberal Member of Parliament despite his departure from the cabinet table.
A Climate Activist's Dilemma
Guilbeault, a longtime climate activist with a history of environmental advocacy dating back to his childhood, faced an internal struggle over the pipeline decision. According to sources close to the minister who spoke on condition of anonymity, Guilbeault spent considerable time studying the details of the Alberta agreement before making his final decision.
The source revealed that Guilbeault had been weighing whether he could be more effective advancing climate causes from within government or through other means. "He's ready to make a lot of compromises," the source noted earlier on Thursday, "That remains true even today, even when it is more difficult."
Behind the Resignation Decision
The minister's departure comes after what sources described as a "long" and "candid" conversation with Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday. While initial reports on Wednesday suggested Guilbeault would not resign over the Alberta deal, his position evidently changed throughout Thursday.
Guilbeault was notably absent from the House of Commons on Thursday, and Quebec Liberal colleagues remained uncertain about his future in caucus. When questioned by reporters in Calgary after signing the pipeline agreement, Prime Minister Carney avoided directly answering whether he could keep Guilbeault in his cabinet.
History of Environmental Advocacy
Guilbeault's environmental credentials are deeply established. His government biography notes that at just five years old, he climbed a tree to protect it from real estate developers. In 2001, he gained national attention when he was arrested for scaling the CN Tower in Toronto to unfurl a banner accusing Canada and U.S. President George W. Bush of being "climate killers."
Despite his strong environmental stance, Guilbeault had previously demonstrated willingness to work within government constraints. He endorsed Carney during the Liberal leadership race in January, praising his work on green energy transition and the financial sector's role in combating climate change. He also stood by Carney when the new prime minister eliminated the consumer carbon tax—a policy Guilbeault had strongly defended under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Following the spring election, when Carney indicated openness to additional pipeline construction, Guilbeault publicly advocated for optimizing existing pipeline capacity instead. He specifically noted that less than half of the Trans Mountain pipeline's capacity was being utilized, suggesting new construction was unnecessary.
The minister had also expressed opposition to the Trans Mountain expansion project but maintained that he could achieve more for climate action from inside government than outside it—a position that ultimately reached its limit with the new Alberta pipeline agreement.
