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Or sign-in if you have an account.Liberal MP Steven Guilbeault participates in a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on April 30, 2026. Photo by HYUNGCHEOL PARK /PostmediaAfter having contributed so much to a climate of frustration and alienation in Alberta, it’s about time that Steven Guilbeault made a meaningful contribution to national unity and the federal cause.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorIt’s telling, however, that such a contribution would have to come in the form of his decision to depart federal politics. Regardless, it’s a welcome development.First and foremost, as was the case with his resignation as environment minister last November, Guilbeault’s exit bolsters the legitimacy of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Alberta and Ottawa and the subsequent progress toward a new pipeline to the west coast.This newsletter from NP Comment tackles the topics you care about. (Subscriber-exclusive edition on Fridays)By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againDespite widespread support for the agreement and the project itself, there remains a fair amount of skepticism as to whether this pipeline will ever happen and even whether the overall course correction on energy and environmental policy under Prime Minister Mark Carney is genuine. Guilbeault’s pending farewell is a political gift to both the prime minister and Alberta’s premier.One could bestow some credit upon Guilbeault for opting for a (mostly) quiet transition out of politics. While he has voiced his displeasure over the MOU, he could have been much more disruptive in his attempts to scuttle it, whether as a rabble-rouser within the Liberal caucus or as a floor-crosser to the NDP or Green Party.Still, though, it seems the former environment minister and Greenpeace activist can’t help himself when it comes to blaming others for his own failed legacy. Ultimately, the story of Steven Gulbeault’s political career — much like that of the former prime minister who recruited him in the first place — will be punctuated by a severe lack of self-awareness and accountability.Why, for example, does Gulbeault believe that the new Liberal leader was so willing to abandon the consumer carbon tax, the oil and gas emissions cap, and the Clean Electricity Regulations?It’s both easy and self-serving to suggest that Mark Carney or Danielle Smith or Pierre Poilievre is undermining climate policy in Canada, when perhaps one of the main culprits is the man staring back at Steven Guilbeault in the mirror.It was no accident that, a year-and-a-half a go, the Liberals found themselves as one of the most unpopular governments this country has ever seen. The chief policy architects of that government would do well to engage in some self-reflection.Their rigid and dogmatic approach ultimately did more to discredit their own cause than any of their political opponents or successors. If we’re keeping score on who hurt climate policy and who’s saving it, it’s a much different scorecard than the one inside Guilbeault’s head.The Guilbeault-Trudeau legacy would have been thoroughly dismantled had the Conservatives won the last federal election — which they surely would have done had Trudeau insisted on sticking around.The Liberals were rescued by a much more pragmatic prime minister who has managed to convince Alberta to agree to a higher industrial carbon price and has set the stage for a major investment into carbon capture technology. Folks like Guilbeault might turn their noses up at that, but it’s a far more meaningful and lasting legacy then what they accomplished.There was and remains an obliviousness to concerns and priorities of Canadians. On issues like affordability and the economy, the Trudeau-Guilbeault Liberals abdicated that ground completely to the Conservatives. Those concerns haven’t gone away under Carney, but at least much of the tone deafness has vanished.It’s clear that old habits die hard. In an interview last week with the CBC, Guilbeault took another shot at the MOU and at Alberta’s premier, specifically: “I’m puzzled why we would put so many eggs in the basket of a premier who has not shown to other provinces frankly and the federal government and Canadians that she can be a reliable partner.”It’s a revealing glimpse into Guilbeault’s mindset and a helpful reminder of the division and condescension he’ll be taking out the door with him.For one, it’s rich to hear any key members of the Trudeau government lecture anyone else about being a reliable partner. How different things would be right now had Guilbeault and his boss actually aspired to be just that.It also demonstrated the internal roadblock that remains in accepting the idea of something being both a win for Alberta and a win for Canada. This isn’t a zero sum game, but treating it like one has a funny way of spawning the kind of disillusionment we’re now trying to counter.The MOU isn’t a sop to Alberta’s premier and it’s not helpful to frame this as begrudgingly throwing a bone at the province. As if we needed another reminder, but none of this would be occurring if ideologues like Guilbeault had their way.One could charitably call that principle, I suppose. By contrast. Trudeau always seemed as though he was latching onto what he perceived as a defining progressive issue of his era – the pursuit of a legacy resembling that of his father.However one chooses to describe it, the impact is still the same. The damage is done, and Guilbeault has decided he can’t bear to sit alongside those attempting to clean it up.Fair enough, that’s his prerogative. But he won’t be missed.Rob Breakenridge is a Calgary-based podcaster and writer. He can be found at robbreakenridge.ca and reached at rob.breakenridge@gmail.com Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.