Guilbeault Calls Out Canada on Climate as He Steps Down
Steven Guilbeault, one of Canada's most recognizable faces in the fight against climate change, has announced he is resigning as a Member of Parliament — and he's not leaving quietly.
The former Environment and Climate Change Minister, who represented the Montreal riding of Laurier–Sainte-Marie, used his departure to issue a pointed warning: Canada, he says, is "backsliding" on its climate commitments.
A Career Built on the Environment
Guilbeault came to politics with a resume unlike almost any other Canadian politician. Before winning his seat, he spent decades as an environmental activist — co-founding Équiterre, one of Quebec's most influential sustainability organizations, and famously scaling the CN Tower in 2001 to hang a climate change banner.
His appointment as Environment Minister under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau put him at the centre of some of Canada's most contentious climate debates, including the federal carbon price, clean electricity regulations, and Canada's net-zero emissions targets.
For many supporters, he represented the rare politician who actually understood the science and urgency behind climate policy.
The Warning He's Leaving Behind
In his resignation statement, Guilbeault expressed concern that the momentum Canada built on climate action is now at risk. The phrase "backsliding" carries real weight coming from someone who spent years inside the machinery of federal climate policy.
His comments arrive at a critical moment. With a federal election recently concluded and a new political chapter beginning in Ottawa, questions about the future of Canada's carbon pricing system and emissions targets have become more pointed than ever. Critics of aggressive climate policy have grown louder, and some signature Trudeau-era environmental measures face an uncertain future.
Guilbeault's resignation signals that he sees the writing on the wall — and wants Canadians to pay attention.
What This Means for Canadian Climate Policy
Canada has long struggled to meet its Paris Agreement targets. Despite public commitments to reach net-zero by 2050 and a 40–45% reduction in emissions by 2030 relative to 2005 levels, the country has consistently ranked among developed nations with the highest per-capita emissions.
The federal carbon price — which Guilbeault defended vigorously — was one of the most politically divisive environmental tools in recent Canadian history. Its future remains a live debate.
Environmental advocates worry that without champions like Guilbeault in Parliament, the political will to hold firm on ambitious targets will weaken. Industry groups, on the other hand, have argued that more flexible approaches are needed to protect Canadian competitiveness.
A Voice Still in the Room?
While Guilbeault is stepping away from elected office, he has not ruled out remaining engaged on climate issues in other capacities. Given his background in civil society, a return to advocacy work or international climate diplomacy wouldn't surprise observers.
For now, his departure leaves a notable gap in the House of Commons — and his parting words serve as both a challenge and a caution to whoever picks up the file next.
Canada's climate commitments are only as strong as the political will behind them. Guilbeault is betting that Canadians are paying attention.
Source: CBC News Top Stories
