Gratitude for Steven Guilbeault

Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages, announces the Canada Strong Pass at the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa on Monday, June 16, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Backslide 

1

: to lapse morally or in the practice of religion

2

: to revert to a worse condition : retrogress

Yesterday Steven Guilbeault, a Liberal Member of Canadian Parliament, announced his resignation from the party and his decision to leave politics when he vacates his Montreal seat in the summer.

I consider this a loss for Canada. Guilbeault was a strong environmental activist long before running for office and he was arrested more than once in his work, including once for scaling the CN Tower. After his election he served as Environment Minister during the latter Trudeau years. He is smart, understands the challenges we face as a nation, including the climate emergency, and he was an articulate spokesperson for the government.

During the past year and more since Mark Carney became Prime Minister Guilbeault has become a Cheshire Cat, slowly but surely disappearing from the public eye. We've heard that he has disagreed with the choices of a government favouring economy over environment and a recent deal with Alberta regarding a pipeline to BC has been the last straw. 

He made his announcement with grace but he used the term "backsliding" to describe recent choices by the government. It's an interesting term to use because while most of us understand it in a general context of "to revert to a worse condition" it has a religious and moral connotation. During my teen years I hung out with conservative Christians and backsliding, growing cold in devotion to Christ, was a miserable although rather nebulous condition to be addressed immediately. . 

I do feel that the decisions we make regarding the environment and what we as Christians call Creation are moral and deeply spiritual. And I would agree that Canada is both retrogressing and and lapsing morally. 

Once again I think of Mark Carney's book, Values, in which he reflects on the moral and ethical guideposts we establish for every aspect of life. Carney is a practicing Roman Catholic

and we would hope his faith would move him beyond questionable pragmatism to a greater good for this generation and generations to come. 

Steven Guilbeault now feels he can do more in climate advocacy outside of government. Many of his Liberal colleagues speak highly of him and Green Party leader Elizabeth May expressed sadness that he is leaving. There were times when I wished he showed more of his activist fire but his departure is discouraging and I certainly wish him well.