Alberta energy deal was ‘the last straw,’ says Guilbeault after cabinet resignation

MONTREAL :Former Liberal minister Steven Guilbeault says the Alberta energy memorandum of understanding signed by Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government was “the last straw” that led to his resignation from cabinet, warning Canada is now unlikely to meet its climate change targets.

Speaking on Radio-Canada’s Tout le monde en parle, Guilbeault said recent policy decisions by the federal government — particularly last week’s energy deal with Alberta — have undermined years of progress on climate action.

“Given the direction the government has taken in recent weeks, it will be impossible to achieve the climate targets Canada has set for itself,” Guilbeault said.

He added that the Alberta agreement signals a shift in federal priorities that he could no longer support, describing it as a turning point that forced him to step away from cabinet.

The Carney government has defended the memorandum of understanding with Alberta as a necessary step to ensure energy stability and economic growth, but environmental groups and climate advocates have criticized the deal as a major setback for Canada’s climate commitments.

Guilbeault’s resignation has intensified debate within the Liberal ranks over the government’s climate strategy and its balancing of environmental goals with economic and energy security concerns.

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