Liberal minister resigns over Carney's energy deal, while B.C. premier 'anxious' over potential pipeline

B.C. Premiere says line a 'distraction' from other projects

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Guilbeault's resignation adds even more lustre to a good news day for Smith.

Th environmentalist-turned minister was long a thorn in the oil-producing province's side, and a routine subject of scorn — a walking symbol, to them, of the Liberal government's distaste for more western energy production and pipelines.

Even after he moved out of the environment portfolio and into heritage, Smith and United Conservatives continued to verbally spar with him over the merits of pipelines.

Guilbeault remained a public voice on climate and energy issues, even while on a largely unrelated job — and Smith remained aware that he'd still carry influence over her province's economic interests as long as he had a place at the prime minister's cabinet table.

Guilbeault says he believes the proposal to exempt Alberta from clean electricity regulations in exchange for stricter industrial carbon pricing rules and the Pathways project is “a serious mistake.”

“We cannot hope to decarbonize our economy without decarbonizing the electricity sector,” he wrote.

Guilbeault says that an analysis submitted to the House of Commons shows that without these regulations, the electricity sector would “return to an upward emissions trajectory.”

“This regulation also saves lives by reducing air pollution, generates over $3 billion in health-care savings and ultimately reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 182 million tonnes,” he wrote.

Guilbeault’s statement outlines his various concerns with the agreement, including the lack of consultation with Indigenous groups or with the B.C. Government.

He says a pipeline to the West Coast would have “major environmental impacts,” including contributing to a significant increase in climate pollution and moving Canada further away from its greenhouse gas reduction targets.

He also raises concerns that lifting the tanker ban on B.C.’s North Coast could increase the risk of accidents in the region and hinder the creation of a marine conservation area in the Great Bear Sea.

In a statement posted to X, Guilbeault said that while he understands Carney’s “efforts to ensure our country remains united and that all regions feel they have a voice,” he believes environmental issues “must remain front and centre.”

“That is why I strongly opposed the memorandum of understanding between the federal government and the government of Alberta,” his statement said.

This afternoon, I informed the Prime Minister of my decision to resign as Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture, Minister responsible for Official Languages, Minister of Nature and Parks Canada, as well as his Lieutenant in Quebec. <br><br>You can find my full statement below. <a href="https://t.co/6s7HhdXaLO">pic.twitter.com/6s7HhdXaLO</a>

Eby said an example of what really “pissed [him] off” was when Saskatchewan potash giant Nutrien decided to build a potash export terminal in the state of Washington instead of B.C.

He said Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe could have been working with the western province to keep the export facility in Canada, instead of having “secret talks” with Carney and Smith on the pipeline.

“That’s the one that makes me really unhappy,” Eby said.

In the past, Eby has been more colourful in his remarks about pipelines. Rob Shaw, a reporter from the Vancouver Sun, points out at the news conference that Eby seems less angry and more muted today.

Eby said he understands Carney and Smith each have their own political objectives at play, but said he will take a stronger stance if today’s deal pulls focus from ongoing projects.

“Am I going to be upset with Danielle Smith for advancing what the UCP wants her to do? The prime minister needs to de-escalate with Alberta and find a path forward, and I understand that [too]. The part where I’m going to get my elbows up … is when this conversation about these non-existent projects begins to actively compromise active projects in British Columbia,” he said, near the end of his remarks.

“We cannot afford to lose real projects in the name of politics right now.”

Eby says the province has no plans to file a legal challenge.

"To be blunt, we’ve done that already with the TMX project," he said of the pipeline built by the federal government from Alberta to the West Coast. "We lost in court."

He said it's clear that if it's the government's wish, "they could impose this pipeline on us."

Both the provincial government and First Nations in B.C. Lost separate court challenges years ago trying to stop the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.

Eby said he told the prime minister he should sit down and have a meeting with Coastal First Nations, who have been steadfast in their opposition to another pipeline.

Eby repeatedly referenced that the project’s lack of a proponent is a major obstacle, if not an insurmountable one.

“There is not one private company that has stepped up to say, if you build it, we'll buy it … not one,” he said.

Later, he added: “I don’t think one taxpayer dollar should go into this project and I’m glad to see in the agreement that that is a condition, and I think that that is probably fatal to Premier Smith’s proposal.”

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