Steven Guilbeault to Resign Seat and Leave Liberal Caucus

Steven Guilbeault, the Liberal MP for Laurier–Sainte‑Marie, announced Wednesday that he will leave the Liberal caucus and resign his seat ^[1].

The departure of the former Minister of the Environment signals a significant internal rift regarding Canada's environmental agenda. By exiting the party and the House of Commons, Guilbeault removes a high-profile voice of climate urgency from the government's legislative ranks.

Guilbeault made the announcement on May 27, 2026 ^[1]. He said that his resignation will take effect during the summer of 2026 ^[1], marking the end of his political career.

The decision follows a period of transition for the MP. After leaving the cabinet in November 2025, he had remained a member of the Liberal caucus and kept his seat in the House of Commons. However, he now says the government is not doing enough to combat climate change ^[2].

Guilbeault expressed deep disappointment with the climate policies currently pursued by his party ^[2]. In a statement via Radio-Canada, the MP said that his government is not doing more to fight climate change ^[3].

His exit leaves a vacancy in the riding of Laurier–Sainte‑Marie in Quebec. The timing of the resignation—occurring during the summer months—will necessitate a process to fill the seat in the House of Commons ^[1].

Guilbeault has been a central figure in Canadian environmental politics, both as a government minister and as a former activist. His departure follows a trend of increasing pressure on the Liberal party to accelerate its emissions reduction targets.