Politics
Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault will be given a new portfolio in Mark Carney’s cabinet, a source with knowledge of the decision told Radio-Canada.
Prime minister-designate aiming for leaner cabinet of 15 to 20 members
Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault has until recently been a staunch defender of the consumer carbon tax. He now says he’s open to a replacement policy. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault will be given a new portfolio in Mark Carney’s cabinet, a source with knowledge of the decision told Radio-Canada.
The Montreal MP and former Greenpeace activist, who has held the portfolio since 2021, will instead be responsible for various files, said the source, who was not authorized to speak on the record.
However, he will no longer be the face of the fight against climate change.
Guilbeault learned the news earlier this week, the source said.
WATCH | Guilbeault says it’s up to Carney what his cabinet role would be:
Guilbeault says it’s up to Carney if he’ll remain in cabinet
Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault, speaking in Montreal on Thursday, reflected on his work as a minister over the last several years and added that it is the ‘prerogative’ of the prime minister to decide who will be in cabinet. He said he was proud of his accomplishments as environment minister but did not confirm that he would keep the job.
During a news conference Thursday in his riding of Laurier-Sainte-Marie, Guilbeault called serving as environment minister “the privilege of a lifetime,” but wouldn’t confirm or deny if he was leaving the role.
Canada’s next prime minister appears intent on marking a clear break with the Trudeau-era consumer carbon tax, a policy Guilbeault, until recently, aggressively defended. That made him a polarizing minister in parts of the country, and he often faced off against Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.
Carney, once a proponent of carbon pricing, campaigned on dropping the carbon tax and repeated the promise in his acceptance speech Monday.
WATCH | Carney, new cabinet to be sworn in Friday:
Carney, new cabinet will be sworn in Friday
Newly elected Liberal Leader Mark Carney will officially become Canada’s prime minister at a swearing-in ceremony Friday alongside his cabinet.
Guilbeault suggested earlier this year that he’s open to replacing the federal scheme if candidates can propose new measures to help Canada achieve its climate targets. Guilbeault blamed Conservative “disinformation” for making the measure toxic to Canadians.
He endorsed Carney during the leadership race.
Sources with knowledge of Carney’s plans have said he’s aiming for a more svelte cabinet to confront the trade war launched by U.S. President Donald Trump and the ensuing economic uncertainty.
Those sources said Carney’s team will be in the range of 15 to 20 members — paring down from the 37 ministers in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly is keeping her job, according to sources with knowledge of the decision.
Other key players on the Canada-U.S. relations file, like Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne, are also expected to keep their jobs.
WATCH | Carney’s cabinet must be ready to face Trump threats, says labour minister:
Carney’s cabinet must be ready to face Trump threats, says labour minister
Ahead of prime minister-designate Mark Carney selecting his cabinet, Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon said whoever Carney picks must be ready and able to face the threats from U.S. President Donald Trump.
At an event on Thursday, Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon did not say whether he’s received a call about his future from Carney’s team, deferring to Friday’s big event.
He did suggest the team will be made up of experienced members.
“This is a group of people that needs to be ready to face the threats that we are facing from the United States on the trade front,” he said.
“This an experienced group of ministers. This is a group of people who will take with them the great pride and the great determination that Canadians are showing.”
Friday’s transition will begin when Trudeau meets with Governor General Mary Simon to resign and recommend that she ask the new leader to form a government and new ministry.
Besides building his cabinet, Carney’s inner circle is coming into focus.
Sources with knowledge of Carney’s transition team told CBC News Tim Krupa has been tapped as policy director, a role he held during the leadership campaign. He ran as the Liberal candidate in Kelowna-Lake Country in 2021, losing to Conservative Tracy Gray.
The Oxford grad previously worked as an adviser in the Prime Minister’s Office during Trudeau’s early years before working as an economist at Goldman Sachs.
With files from David Cochrane
