Guilbeault resigns as MP, saying he'll fight climate change outside of government

Ex- surroundings government minister Steven Guilbeault said he is resigning as an MP because he intends to occupy his struggle for the environment exterior of government. 

"This decision is the result of careful consideration," he said in a social media post. 

"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."

He will remain a Liberal MP until the House of Commons rises for the summer.

Guilbeault delivered the news to fellow Liberal MPs as they gathered for their weekly parliamentary caucus meeting on Wednesday.

Emerging from the closed-door gathering he told reporters that he was "absolutely at peace."

In his brief comments he did not address why he was leaving now, and whether it was because of the Carney government's about-face on climate policies that he advanced.   

But the Montreal MP has vocally opposed the Carney government's attempts to strike an energy accord with Alberta that includes advancing a pipeline to the West Coast and weakening industrial carbon pricing.

Guilbeault said he will deliver a statement in the House of Commons. That's expected to happen around 4 p.m. 

Guilbeault leapt into politics from the activist world. Notably he grabbed national attention in 2001 when he and another Greenpeace activist scaled the CN Tower and unfurled a banner calling on Canada and other nations to take climate change seriously. 

In a reversal of roles, about two decades later he occupied a seat at the federal cabinet — eventually assuming the role as Canada's environment and climate change minister. 

Prime Minister Mark Carney thanked Guilbeault for his contributions, listing his efforts to protect the environment and other accomplishments while in government. 

"He helped establish the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework to protect 30 per cent of Canada's lands and waters, implemented Canada's first emissions reduction plan and championed landmark efforts to protect Canadian culture and identity, including establishing the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation," Carney said in a statement.  

Carney thanks Guilbeault for 'his many contributions' before MP's expected resignation

Liberals over the last 24 hours acknowledged how much of a loss the departure was.

"I would be sad to see him go," said Jaime Battiste, a Nova Scotian Liberal MP. 

But Battiste and other MPs brushed aside questions about whether Wednesday's exit was a sign the Liberal tent could no longer accommodate climate activists like Guilbeault. 

"I don't believe that is the case. I believe you have the ability to walk into that caucus, go to the mic and speak about anything," he said. 

"I would reject any premise that [Guilbeault] doesn't have the ability to be heard." 

The Liberals under Carney have repealed the consumer carbon tax, eliminated the EV sales mandate, signalled the end of the oil and gas emissions cap and reversed the Liberal promise to end fossil fuel subsidies.

While speaking with reporters, Carney left the door open to working with Guilbeault in some capacity. The prime minister also defended his government's efforts to protect the environment, saying in French that Canada is protecting nature while advancing international climate finance.  

Senior reporter, Parliamentary Correspondent

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