OTTAWA — In a major internal challenge to the federal government’s environmental agenda, 14 Liberal Members of Parliament have jointly written a confidential letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney expressing deep discontent over recent rollbacks and concessions in Canada’s climate policies. The letter was reportedly delivered in late April, just prior to the federal government finalizing a highly controversial new pipeline agreement with the province of Alberta. While the 14 dissenting backbenchers—who hail from various regions across the country, including Quebec and British Columbia—have signed the document, they have chosen to keep their identities anonymous, framing the move as an effort to foster a constructive, progressive dialogue within the party.
According to a copy of the letter obtained by Radio-Canada, the MPs stated they are “gravely concerned” that the government’s recent policy shifts will severely damage its credibility on the global stage. Reminding the Prime Minister that climate change remains the defining threat of our era, the lawmakers urged the administration to steadfastly uphold the Clean Electricity Regulations, despite the federal government’s growing list of concessions to Alberta’s energy sector. The internal dissent underscores a fracturing consensus within the Liberal caucus over how to balance economic realities with the transition toward net-zero emissions.
The friction stems from a major bilateral pact signed last week between Prime Minister Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. The agreement greenlights the construction of a new oil pipeline to the Pacific coast, with development slated to begin by September 2027. Furthermore, the deal decelerates the scheduled implementation rate of the industrial carbon tax and introduces legislative amendments aimed at fast-tracking environmental approvals for large-scale energy projects within a strict one-year window. This policy pivot marks a massive departure from previous federal frameworks, drawing fierce condemnation from environmental advocacy groups and the progressive wing of the party.
Former Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault remains the most prominent Liberal figure to publicly break ranks over the issue, warning that the new fast-tracked legislative amendments risk setting Canada’s environmental progress back by decades. Guilbeault had previously resigned from the cabinet last year immediately following the initial memorandum of understanding signed between Carney and the Alberta government. Meanwhile, the opposition Bloc Québécois is moving quickly to capitalize on the internal Liberal rift before the parliamentary summer recess, with environment critic Patrick Bonin calling on more backbenchers to publicly denounce the government for prioritizing the agenda of oil and gas corporations. The Prime Minister’s Office has so far declined to comment on the internal correspondence.
