Politicians react to Steven Guilbeault’s plan to resign as an MP

Staunch environmentalist and former Liberal environment minister Steven Guilbeault confirmed Wednesday he will step down as a member of Parliament this summer.

Guilbeault has become increasingly disillusioned in recent months by what he has called the dismantling of climate policies under Prime Minister Mark Carney.

The Quebec MP quit Carney’s cabinet last year after the announcement of Ottawa’s energy deal with Alberta, which includes an agreement to work toward the approval of a bitumen pipeline.

Here are some of the things politicians said Wednesday about his coming departure:

“First and foremost what I want to do is thank … Steven Guilbeault for his many contributions … We’ve worked closely together in a variety of areas and I’ve always enjoyed working with him.”

— Prime Minister Mark Carney

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“He has fuelled a lot of resentment, justifiable resentment, from people who can’t work.”

— Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre

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“Steven Guilbeault dedicated his many years of public service to protecting our environment, making our country more sustainable, and building a better Canada for future generations. As he worked to advance climate action and meaningful policy reform, he led every effort with conviction, integrity and heart.”

— Former prime minister Justin Trudeau

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“Mr. Guilbeault has the courage of his convictions and has seen that he doesn’t have that alignment with Mr. Carney.”

— Conservative MP Michael Barrett

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“I have the greatest respect for him and I understand that after seven years in politics, for various reasons, one can decide to do something else and in other capacities.”

— Procurement Minister Joel Lightbound

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“It’s a different Liberal party that is meeting the very urgent and critical demands of the moment. We’re in a trade war, there are wars in the Middle East, there’s a war in Europe. Indeed, we have a climate change challenge to meet and contribute to, and we’re going to continue doing all of that.”

— Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon

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“I, personally, value extremely the level of commitment that he provided the government, the personal relationship that he had with me. We worked together really well and he became a friend quickly. I have so much esteem and gratitude for the way that he engaged with the government, but even more importantly the relationship that he helped me build with him.”

— Liberal MP Jean-Yves Duclos

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“Steven is a dear friend. I wish him the best in whatever decision he ends up making. At the end of the day, he has been somebody who I have been able to ask advice for in the past, and I wish him well.”

— Liberal MP Matt Jeneroux

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“I have a tremendous amount of respect for him and the work that he does and I really wish him all the best.”

— Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin

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“Steven has been a great friend, a great advocate, of course, throughout the duration of his time in Parliament and throughout his life, for causes that he believes in. And he leaves us with lots to continue thinking about and moving forward on in relation to that balance that we strive, at a time when we have to be doing big things in this country while we also have to be keeping an eye on the impact of what we do vis-a-vis the environment and the planet.”

— Liberal MP Ben Carr

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“I have the utmost respect for Steven and his work. I regret that we will not have the opportunity to continue to be colleagues in the House of Commons, but I look forward to continuing to work with him in whatever he does next, because I know that his future efforts will still be in this space and contributing towards the goal of making sure that Canada can be a strong, constructive partner in the global fight to combat climate change.”

— Liberal MP Will Greaves

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“I would like to thank my friend and colleague … for all his work and dedication to public service over the past six years. He has made enormous contributions to our country as a member of Parliament and a minister, and I truly enjoyed having him as a colleague. I wish him and his family all the best for what comes next and I look forward to continuing our friendship.”

— Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc

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“No wonder Steven Guilbeault is leaving this place. I am heartbroken that he is because he is a strong voice, as we all know, and a person of great integrity and courage. I am heartbroken and I see that today the prime minister’s comment on Steven Guilbeault’s departure is ‘things change.’ Well, I wonder who Mark Carney is. I wonder if, and I think my friend Steven Guilbeault was probably wondering, when did Carney change? When did the Liberal platform become the Conservative platform?”

— Green Party Leader Elizabeth May

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 27, 2026.

By Canadian Press Staff | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.