Guilbeault resigns from cabinet
Steven Guilbeault, who came out of a background of environmental jobs like running the Quebec Greenpeace chapter, has resigned from the federal cabinet over Mark Carney’s pipeline promise to Alberta premier Danielle Smith. He also drops his role as Quebec lieutenant. Guilbeault is staying in the Liberal caucus as MP for Laurier—Sainte-Marie.
Ian 10:56 on 2025-11-28 Permalink
Pretty wild play by Carney considering BC is flat out refusing to go along, as well they should. Guilbeault did the right thing, but I’d love to see him take it a step further and cross the floor to the NDP or Greens.
Joey 11:43 on 2025-11-28 Permalink
I read one analysis that basically said this is all highly performative pipeline love from Carney, who knows that the thing will never get built (lack of enthusiastic private sector partner, resistance from BC but more importantly from First Nations that cannot be as easily dismissed) – he gets a little love-in from Danielle Smith and Alberta who, in exchange, will be increasing the province’s industrial carbon price (see here: https://www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/27/opinion/method-mark-carney-madness). I’m not sure I’m convinced – this sounds like five-dimensional chess – but I am similarly unconvinced the pipeline will get built.
Meezly 12:06 on 2025-11-28 Permalink
I really want to believe that optimistic perspective, that Carney’s deal is more a strategic move to win over Alberta than realistically getting the pipeline built, and the act of making the deal may still help boost the economy. But wouldn’t Guilbeault have been in on it then? Unless he’s looking for an excuse to leave the cabinet, or the deal won’t look legit unless Guilbeault makes some kind of statement?
Ian 12:16 on 2025-11-28 Permalink
Occam’s razor says nah
CE 16:47 on 2025-11-28 Permalink
I’m not sure about the Greens but the NDP doesn’t allow an MP to cross the floor to them without a byelection. Although now that NDP MPs are almost a rounding error in the HoC, they might be willing to overlook the rule at the moment (especially for someone like Guilbeault who I always thought was more ideologically aligned to the NDP and ran in a riding where the NDP came in a close second).