Former Liberal minister Steven Guilbeault has raised concerns that Canada will not meet its climate change targets due to recent decisions made by Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government. Guilbeault expressed his views on Radio-Canada’s popular show, Tout le monde en parle, highlighting that agreements like the recent memorandum with Alberta will hinder the achievement of the set targets.
Guilbeault emphasized the importance of regulations alongside market and private investments to reach the country’s climate goals. He pointed out that recent policy changes make it impossible to meet the 2030 targets, echoing a report by the Canadian Climate Institute that stated Canada’s climate goals are now unattainable.
The former environment minister’s appearance on the show followed his resignation as culture minister in response to the agreement with Alberta, which includes provisions for a new bitumen pipeline and the suspension of emission caps and clean electricity regulations. Guilbeault expressed disappointment in the direction the government is taking, noting that compromises are necessary but some decisions are too costly.
Regarding Alberta’s stance on renewable energy, Guilbeault criticized Premier Danielle Smith for halting investments in this sector, resulting in job losses and setbacks in environmental progress. He also questioned the rationale behind the government’s actions that seem to prioritize Alberta’s interests over climate commitments.
Guilbeault’s resignation statement outlined the rollback of key climate measures implemented during the Trudeau era, emphasizing the importance of these initiatives for effective climate action. Despite his resignation, Guilbeault remains supportive of Carney and intends to continue advocating for environmental and cultural causes within the Liberal caucus.
In his parting words, Guilbeault expressed hope that his resignation would prompt a reevaluation of current policies and steer the government towards a more balanced approach to climate change mitigation.
