Minister Steven Guilbeault supports Mark Carney

Montebello Federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault is endorsing former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney in the race for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada.

Mr. Guilbeault thus becomes the second influential Quebec minister to give his support to Mr. Carney after the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, on Sunday.

He announced his decision on the sidelines of a two-day cabinet retreat devoted to Canada-U.S. relations following Donald Trump’s return to power in the United States.

Mr. Guilbeault explained his decision by saying that Mark Carney has proven that he understands the issues related to the climate change crisis and the energy transition. According to him, Mr. Carney also demonstrated his leadership qualities during the financial crisis of 2008-2009, as governor of the Bank of Canada, and during the Brexit crisis, as governor of the Bank of England.

“I have dedicated my life to fighting for change and protecting the environment. I have worked as a manager at Équiterre and Greenpeace. That is why I entered politics to ensure that we can leave our children and grandchildren a healthy planet. We see the impacts of climate change every day,” Mr. Guilbeault said in a press scrum.

“We have a big decision in the leadership race between now and March 9. Who is the best person to lead the Liberal Party in the next election and who is the best person to take on Pierre Poilievre who refuses to even acknowledge that climate change exists? I am announcing that I will be supporting Mark Carney,” he added.

The race for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada is therefore shaping up as a battle between three candidates: Mark Carney, former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, and former government House Leader Karina Gould.

Regarding Mark Carney’s promise to abolish carbon pricing for individuals, Mr. Guilbeaut maintained that he understands that this measure has become unpopular with a part of the population because of “the lies” of the Conservative Party.

But he says he is reassured to see that Mr. Carney intends to announce a measure that is just as effective and less costly for Canadians as part of the leadership race.

“I’ve had several conversations with Mark and his team. He said it himself last week that if you want to remove an element of the climate action plan, you have to replace it with something that will be at least equivalent in terms of efforts and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. It was a conversation that was very easy because Mark and I see things very much in the same way on the issue of the fight against climate change, the role of the financial sector, the economy of the 21st century .”

Justin Trudeau announced on January 6 that he will step down as party leader and prime minister once the party has chosen a successor.

The name of the next leader will be known on March 9.