Former Immigration Minister Marc Miller has returned to cabinet as culture minister, after Prime Minister Mark Carney shuffled his cabinet in response to Steven Guilbeault’s departure from the role.
A brief ceremony at Rideau Hall on Dec. 1 saw Miller sworn in as minister of Canadian identity and culture and minister responsible for official languages.
Guilbeault’s other portfolios were split among current cabinet members. Joël Lightbound, who serves as minister of government transformation, public services and procurement, was also given the role of Quebec lieutenant formerly held by Guilbeault.
Minister of Environment and Climate Change Julie Dabrusin saw a slight modification to her title, with parks and nature being added to her file. Her new title is minister of the environment, climate change, and nature.
The shuffle comes after Steven Guilbeault, who had been the environment minister under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, announced on Nov. 27 that he would be resigning from his role as minister of Canadian identity and culture and minister responsible for official languages, minister of nature and Parks Canada, as well as Carney’s Quebec lieutenant. He said he would stay on as a Liberal MP.
In his resignation letter, Guilbeault cited his opposition to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between Ottawa and Alberta last week that made sweeping changes to Trudeau-era energy policy, including paving the way for the building of an oil pipeline from Alberta to B.C. Guilbeault also cited opposition to other measures outlined in the MOU such as removing the emissions cap for the oil and gas sector, exempting Alberta from the Clean Electricity Regulations, and measures previously taken by Carney like removing the consumer carbon tax, and delaying the electric vehicle sales mandate in 2026.
Lightbound had served as parliamentary secretary to a number of cabinet ministers, and was given a cabinet position following the April federal election.
Dabrusin had also served in parliamentary secretary roles under Trudeau, but was promoted to cabinet by Carney following the spring election.
