Former star Liberal recruit Steven Guilbeault confirmed Wednesday his exit from politics, saying he’s decided he needs to pursue his fight against climate change in a different way.
Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters he’s known for some time that his former cabinet minister could leave and said he understands the decision.
Mr. Guilbeault, who represents a Montreal riding, said he will remain in the governing caucus until he resigns his seat later this summer.
“After almost seven years as a Member of Parliament and Minister, I have come to the conclusion that it is time for me to pursue my fight for environmental protection and the fight against climate change in a different way,” Mr. Guilbeault said in a statement posted to social media.
“I’m feeling at peace,” Mr. Guilbeault told reporters in brief comments after his meeting with the Liberal caucus.
He will make a speech in the House of Commons Wednesday afternoon.
Mr. Guilbeault previously resigned from Mr. Carney’s cabinet over his disagreement with the government’s energy accord with Alberta and its dismantling of marquee climate policies from the Trudeau era. Two sources told The Globe and Mail on Tuesday that the tipping point for his exit entirely from Parliament Hill was a raft of policy announcements over the last two weeks that undid large parts of the policy Mr. Guilbeault crafted when he was environment minister under Justin Trudeau.
The Globe is not identifying the sources, who were not authorized to disclose the private conversations.
While the House of Commons was on break, the government unveiled major proposed changes to environmental assessments and softened the bite that industry will feel from the carbon price. That latter change, made through an accord with Alberta, also paved the way for a new oil pipeline to the West Coast.
Mr. Carney thanked Mr. Guilbeault for his contributions to public life at a Wednesday morning press conference and said he has always enjoyed working with him.
“It’s for him to make decisions about his career,” the Prime Minister said of Mr. Guilbeault.
In a subsequent statement released by his office, Mr. Carney spoke glowingly of the Quebec MP’s contributions. He said Mr. Guilbeault’s work has “always been guided by his convictions and driven by his pursuit of a stronger, more inclusive, and more sustainable future.”
Fit_Salamander_2814 on
More publicity stunts like climbing the CN tower with a protest banner? Or do we think he’s going to graduate to more direct action, like blowing up pipelines like Wiebo Ludwig? Environmental warrior and freedom-fighter, actually taking action to stop evil climate change via kinetic means.
Or do we think the political connections he’s made while in office will allow him to command that be done, but escape accountability for being the cause? Will he be the puppeteer, quietly coordinating direct action from behind the scenes?
Inquiring minds want to know!
atyler_thehun on
This should be a perfectly reasonable comment section today
Cold-Atmosphere6734 on
But bye! He wanted to shutdown full industries without any plan to replace the jobs or revenue. Just straight up destruction.
kiwiberryman on
Why can’t he just cross the floor to the greens and vote against stuff he doesn’t agree with?
nevergoingtouse1969 on
No doubt he is going to get a golden handshake and a retirement gig just like the other Liberal cronies.
SOMANYLOLS on
r/canada obviously hates him but I really appreciate Guilbeault. A man of principles that became a part of the system and tried to do something politically difficult. Whenever a crisis occurs the fight against climate change gets put on the backburner. It’s a shame. But hey, the climate cynics and denialists and oil and gas folks feel justified and get what they want.
Enjoy the wildifres everyone.
Strict_Common6871 on
well, he was a bad MP and a shitty minister with idiotic ideas, but at least he has some integrity, very unique for a liberal MP
Ancient_Wisdom_Yall on
He fits the typical green voter. A fully funded pension so he never has to worry about jobs or industries that actually pay for everything.
planetearthling on
back to eco-terrorism, is it?
YBBOK-Kevin on
This guy believed in something, and stood for it, When I first saw the photo of him in a jumpsuit, I was shocked to find out that this same individual was now in politics, especially with a criminal record.
I believe Canada needs to turn a page, and that is one without Stephen, but I can’t knock him for standing on principle. To be in a position to not compromise in your beliefs is a blessing. How many of us had to say we believe in this, but due to a number of factors(money, stress, time,), had to pivot?
I guess the Liberal house leader?? (One who was on PnP yesterday) has to sit back with Mr. Cochrane and can now answer questions, lol.
DeanPoulter241 on
Don’t let the door hit you on the way out!!!!!
This joker is/was part of the problem and contributed to the lost generation courtesy of the last 11 years and counting of liberal govt.
How a person with a criminal record can become a cabinet minister is beyond me. It is disappointing that more people don’t get that disconnect!
VizzleG on
He should see if he can fight it from the inside of a prison.
FunnyChampionship717 on
Let’s celebrate the small wins.
He single handedly crippled us more than anyone else. Between his carbon taxes and pipeline killing policies we are in the spot we are now in large part because of him.
MentalSky_ on
A useless man who hurt Canada
stuffundfluff on
i guess his green slush fund gravy train ran out… the fact that sycophants and zealots like him had such a large voice in the cabinet is why we had a lost decade
-Reggie-Dunlop- on
Different way? Gonna be a keyboard warrior
Xyzzics on
Any pro-environment person who isn’t fully supportive of nuclear to reduce fossil fuel dependency automatically loses all credibility. Canada has both the fuel and the tech to become a nuclear energy superpower.
It’s not about reducing carbon, and it never was; it’s zealotry.
No different than the way they handle their other contentious portfolios that disregard evidence that doesn’t fit their narrative.
StructureSuitable471 on
Amazing that a convicted criminal could become a cabinet minister. Even more amazing that so many would continue to vote for a party that consistently rewarded criminals like Guilbeault with cabinet appointments.
Effective-Ad9499 on
Good riddance. We do not need any type of person with extremist views in Parliament.
ryansalad on
Good riddance
Jaded-Influence6184 on
Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on your way out, you doofus.
23 Comments
Full text
—
Former star Liberal recruit Steven Guilbeault confirmed Wednesday his exit from politics, saying he’s decided he needs to pursue his fight against climate change in a different way.
Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters he’s known for some time that his former cabinet minister could leave and said he understands the decision.
Mr. Guilbeault, who represents a Montreal riding, said he will remain in the governing caucus until he resigns his seat later this summer.
“After almost seven years as a Member of Parliament and Minister, I have come to the conclusion that it is time for me to pursue my fight for environmental protection and the fight against climate change in a different way,” Mr. Guilbeault said in a statement posted to social media.
“I’m feeling at peace,” Mr. Guilbeault told reporters in brief comments after his meeting with the Liberal caucus.
He will make a speech in the House of Commons Wednesday afternoon.
Mr. Guilbeault previously resigned from Mr. Carney’s cabinet over his disagreement with the government’s energy accord with Alberta and its dismantling of marquee climate policies from the Trudeau era. Two sources told The Globe and Mail on Tuesday that the tipping point for his exit entirely from Parliament Hill was a raft of policy announcements over the last two weeks that undid large parts of the policy Mr. Guilbeault crafted when he was environment minister under Justin Trudeau.
The Globe is not identifying the sources, who were not authorized to disclose the private conversations.
While the House of Commons was on break, the government unveiled major proposed changes to environmental assessments and softened the bite that industry will feel from the carbon price. That latter change, made through an accord with Alberta, also paved the way for a new oil pipeline to the West Coast.
Mr. Carney thanked Mr. Guilbeault for his contributions to public life at a Wednesday morning press conference and said he has always enjoyed working with him.
“It’s for him to make decisions about his career,” the Prime Minister said of Mr. Guilbeault.
In a subsequent statement released by his office, Mr. Carney spoke glowingly of the Quebec MP’s contributions. He said Mr. Guilbeault’s work has “always been guided by his convictions and driven by his pursuit of a stronger, more inclusive, and more sustainable future.”
More publicity stunts like climbing the CN tower with a protest banner? Or do we think he’s going to graduate to more direct action, like blowing up pipelines like Wiebo Ludwig? Environmental warrior and freedom-fighter, actually taking action to stop evil climate change via kinetic means.
Or do we think the political connections he’s made while in office will allow him to command that be done, but escape accountability for being the cause? Will he be the puppeteer, quietly coordinating direct action from behind the scenes?
Inquiring minds want to know!
This should be a perfectly reasonable comment section today
But bye! He wanted to shutdown full industries without any plan to replace the jobs or revenue. Just straight up destruction.
Why can’t he just cross the floor to the greens and vote against stuff he doesn’t agree with?
No doubt he is going to get a golden handshake and a retirement gig just like the other Liberal cronies.
r/canada obviously hates him but I really appreciate Guilbeault. A man of principles that became a part of the system and tried to do something politically difficult. Whenever a crisis occurs the fight against climate change gets put on the backburner. It’s a shame. But hey, the climate cynics and denialists and oil and gas folks feel justified and get what they want.
Enjoy the wildifres everyone.
well, he was a bad MP and a shitty minister with idiotic ideas, but at least he has some integrity, very unique for a liberal MP
He fits the typical green voter. A fully funded pension so he never has to worry about jobs or industries that actually pay for everything.
back to eco-terrorism, is it?
This guy believed in something, and stood for it, When I first saw the photo of him in a jumpsuit, I was shocked to find out that this same individual was now in politics, especially with a criminal record.
I believe Canada needs to turn a page, and that is one without Stephen, but I can’t knock him for standing on principle. To be in a position to not compromise in your beliefs is a blessing. How many of us had to say we believe in this, but due to a number of factors(money, stress, time,), had to pivot?
I guess the Liberal house leader?? (One who was on PnP yesterday) has to sit back with Mr. Cochrane and can now answer questions, lol.
Don’t let the door hit you on the way out!!!!!
This joker is/was part of the problem and contributed to the lost generation courtesy of the last 11 years and counting of liberal govt.
How a person with a criminal record can become a cabinet minister is beyond me. It is disappointing that more people don’t get that disconnect!
He should see if he can fight it from the inside of a prison.
Let’s celebrate the small wins.
He single handedly crippled us more than anyone else. Between his carbon taxes and pipeline killing policies we are in the spot we are now in large part because of him.
A useless man who hurt Canada
i guess his green slush fund gravy train ran out… the fact that sycophants and zealots like him had such a large voice in the cabinet is why we had a lost decade
Different way? Gonna be a keyboard warrior
Any pro-environment person who isn’t fully supportive of nuclear to reduce fossil fuel dependency automatically loses all credibility. Canada has both the fuel and the tech to become a nuclear energy superpower.
It’s not about reducing carbon, and it never was; it’s zealotry.
No different than the way they handle their other contentious portfolios that disregard evidence that doesn’t fit their narrative.
Amazing that a convicted criminal could become a cabinet minister. Even more amazing that so many would continue to vote for a party that consistently rewarded criminals like Guilbeault with cabinet appointments.
Good riddance. We do not need any type of person with extremist views in Parliament.
Good riddance
Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on your way out, you doofus.
Bye Bye…. And good luck!