Toronto/CMEDIA: Canada’s Liberal MP Steven Guilbeault has quit Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney’s cabinet over his deal with Alberta on a path forward for a new bitumen pipeline to the B.C. coast.
Strongly opposing the major new energy agreement of Carney with Alberta, Guilbeault resigned from Carney’s cabinet just hours after a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed which also included a new pipeline and carbon capture by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, on major energy projects.
Guilbeault said he informed the prime minister in a lengthy statement posted online of his decision this afternoon and added that he is also departing from his key political role as Carney’s Quebec lieutenant.
“I remain one of those for whom environmental issues must remain front and center. That’s why I strongly oppose the memorandum of understanding between the federal government and the government of Alberta…I chose to enter politics to champion the fight against climate change and the protection of the environment,” Guilbeault wrote in a lengthy statement on social media.
Referencing several of these policies in his statement Guilbeault said,
“Over the past few months, several elements of the climate action plan I worked on as minister of the environment have been, or are about to be, dismantled…In my view, these measure remain essential to our climate action plan…“When I entered politics, it was because I had a deep conviction that I could make a difference in fighting climate change and protecting our environment. My commitment to leaving a better world for the future of our children and our planet remains unchanged.”
Guilbeault had been serving as the minister responsible for official languages since May, and Carney’s minister of Canadian identity and culture since March. Prior to that he had been the minister for environment and climate change under former prime minister Justin Trudeau.
The MOU signed Nov 26 lays the foundation of construction of a pipeline facilitated to carry a million barrels of oil a day from Alberta’s oil patch to an export terminal on the Pacific coast from where it will be shipped mostly to Asian markets.
According to the deal, Ottawa will suspend the proposed federal oil and gas emissions cap and remove Alberta’s requirements under the Clean Electricity Regulations both of which were introduced while Guilbeault was environment minister.
On his first day as prime minister, Carney had previously walked back other Trudeau-era environment policies, most notably suspending the consumer carbon tax .
First elected to the House of Commons in 2019 – to represent the downtown Montreal riding of Laurier-Sainte-Marie, Que. – Guilbeault said he plans to stay on as a Liberal member of Parliament, meaning he intends to still participate in caucus meetings.
“As you know, I chose to enter politics to champion the fight against climate change and the protection of the environment,” Guilbeault said in the statement, going on to list some of what he viewed as his accomplishments, including eliminating single-use plastics, developing a climate adaptation strategy and supporting Canadian arts and culture.
Green Leader Elizabeth May called on Guilbeault to join her caucus.
“Steven Guilbeault leaving cabinet dashes the last hope that Mark Carney is going to have a good climate record,” she reportedly said
In January, Guilbeault endorsed Carney as Liberal leader, calling him the “right person” to build a strong economy and fight climate change.
Now, he says in recent months, “several elements of the climate action plan I worked on as minister of the environment have been, or are about to be, dismantled,” citing carbon pricing, the zero-emission vehicle standard, and the oil and gas emissions cap.
In a statement, Carney confirmed that Guilbeault will stay on as a Liberal MP, while defending his climate strategy and added that while the two men “may have differing views at times on how exactly we make essential progress,” he’s glad Guilbeault “will continue to offer his important perspectives.”
