OTTAWA — Members of the federal Liberal caucus maintained Friday that their party remains united in the wake of Steven Guilbeault’s resignation from cabinet — but NDP MPs say they see signs that B.C. Liberal MPs are under political pressure.
Guilbeault quit cabinet on Thursday to protest Ottawa’s new pipeline pact with Alberta, which leaves open the possibility of overturning the coastal tanker ban.
B.C. NDP MP Jenny Kwan said the prospect of lifting the coastal tanker ban for oil exports has “grave implications” for coastal communities in her province. She said she senses unease among B.C. Liberal MPs and noted that she saw few of them in the House of Commons on Thursday.
While the Liberals might maintain that they’re unified, Kwan said, they said the same thing just before Guilbeault resigned.
“I know that they have their talking points,” she said. “The reality is Liberal MPs who give a whit about the environment … who give a whit about British Columbia, will have these sentiments.
“They might be keeping it to themselves at the moment, but time will tell whether or not they will speak out against it and take action.”
B.C. New Democrat MP Gord Johns said he did not see “a single B.C. Liberal” in the House of Commons on Friday and accused them of hiding from the media.
“Maybe they shouldn’t be hiding. They should be showing up and standing here in front of (reporters) and answering questions,” Johns said. “That’s what it takes when you stand up for the coast and you’re a true British Columbian.”
No B.C. Liberal MPs spoke to reporters on Parliament Hill Friday.
B.C. Liberal MP Ron McKinnon said Thursday he had not yet read the memorandum of understanding Prime Minister Mark Carney signed with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.
Sean Casey, an East Coast Liberal MP, said he has “absolutely no concerns” and that the party is “absolutely unified.”
He told reporters on Parliament Hill Friday morning that Guilbeault has dedicated his life to advocating for climate action, so it’s completely understandable that he would stand his ground on a point of principle.
“Does it mean there’s a cancer spreading through the caucus? Absolutely not,” Casey said.
Liberal MP Peter Fragiskatos of London, Ont., said the party remains “quite unified,” while Anthony Housefather said Guilbeault’s resignation “doesn’t mean anything” for Liberal support in Quebec.
“The deal that was made with Alberta actually helps the environment, it doesn’t hurt it, so I think it’s a good news story all around,” said Housefather, a Montreal Liberal MP. “One of the things that this shows is that the Liberal party is the one party in Canada where you’re allowed to have a diversity of views.”
Guilbeault served as environment minister to former prime minister Justin Trudeau for years and became the face of that government’s climate policies, defending the contentious consumer carbon tax and promoting measures to reduce carbon emissions.
Guilbeault said in a social media post Thursday he submitted his resignation because many of the key environmental decisions made by the previous Liberal government had been reversed under Carney.
“Despite this difficult economic context, I remain one of those for whom environmental issues must remain front and centre,” he wrote. “That is why I strongly oppose the memorandum of understanding between the federal government and government of Alberta.”
Guilbeault made it clear that he was quitting cabinet over the pipeline deal and the government’s pullback from major federal climate policies.
“Over the past few months, several elements of the climate action plan I worked on as minister of the environment have been, or are about to be, dismantled,” he wrote.
Alberta’s United Conservatives have long viewed Guilbeault as a radical environmental activist and an enemy of Alberta’s oil and gas industry.
When Alberta’s Justice Minister Mickey Amery announced Guilbeault’s resignation while answering a question in the provincial legislature Thursday afternoon, the news was met with applause.
“We got rid of the emissions cap, Mr. Speaker, we have a new pipeline coming here to Alberta, and we just learned that Steven Guilbeault has resigned from the federal cabinet — so good news all around,” said Amery, as UCP MLAs briefly cheered and clapped and one shouted “Hear, hear!”
Guilbeault said he intends to remain on as a Liberal MP but will no longer serve as Carney’s Quebec lieutenant. It’s not clear when a cabinet shuffle will take place or when Carney will name a new Quebec lieutenant.
In a social media statement posted late Thursday, Carney said he’s “deeply grateful” for Guilbeault’s counsel and contributions to environmental sustainability.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 28, 2025.
— With files from Dean Bennett in Edmonton
Catherine Morrison and Kyle Duggan, The Canadian Press
