This week, Liberal MP and former environment minister Steven Guilbeault demonstrated that he is capable of protest without scaling the CN Tower or chaining himself to oil sands equipment. The Quebec MP announced his forthcoming resignation from the House of Commons, days after the CBC revealed that 14 Liberal MPs, including Guilbeault, penned a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney, accusing him of reneging on the party's environmental commitments. The letter insists that 'climate change is the greatest threat of our time,' a phrase that undoubtedly bears Guilbeault's mark.
A principled stand
I have to say it: I can respect a man with principles. Guilbeault has been a vocal critic of Carney for months. In December 2025, he published a La Presse op-ed that railed against the memorandum of understanding regarding a potential Alberta pipeline to the West Coast, signed by Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. In a direct dig at Carney, he called the MOU 'ephemeral,' a mild insubordination that few cabinet-level MPs would dare, unless they were willing to put their job on the line. Guilbeault clearly was.
In his May 27 resignation letter, posted to social media, Guilbeault wrote that he plans to 'pursue his fight for environmental protection and the fight against climate change in a different way.' Will he go back to climbing trees and scaling buildings? Will he join forces with Green Party leader Elizabeth May and attempt to bring the Greens official party status in the House? The latter seems more feasible, though the attempt itself is more likely than achieving official status.
Liberal Party's direction
Guilbeault's resignation should inspire other Liberal MPs to return to their principles. The Liberal Party, especially under Carney, has been operating as though power is the sole objective. They have embraced Conservative floor-crossers who espoused social conservative values before switching teams, and they have adopted Conservative-lite policies, such as eliminating the consumer carbon tax, to deflate the opposition. Official Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre has acknowledged that Carney's Liberals have 'stolen' his policies, but he accepts it because he wants what is best for Canada.
I cannot say the same about most Liberals, who reside in a tent that might soon be visible from the International Space Station. There seems to be something on offer for any elected official, regardless of their political stripes, who wants to come inside. But as Guilbeault pointed out, the fine print reveals that what is really on offer is ephemeral or diluted. In the case of the Canada-Alberta MOU, what was needed was a repeal of the Liberal anti-pipeline Bill C-69, not added layers of red tape. Ultimately, no one got what they wanted.
The Carney Liberal attempt to please everyone for the sake of clinging to power will likely please no one. That would be the case within the party if Liberals prioritized their principles. Most of them don't. Guilbeault was an exception. Perhaps he originally joined forces with the Liberal Party, rather than the Greens, to have a real chance at power. He certainly accomplished more inside government than in his former career as an activist. But at least he drew a line in the sand. Respect, Guilbeault.
