Steven Guilbeault – mackaycartoons

Thursday November 30, 2023

November 30, 2023 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday November 30, 2023

Navigating Diplomacy at COP28: Guilbeault’s Uphill Battle

November 4, 2023

As the world anticipates the United Nations summit on climate change, the focus broadens beyond the global initiatives to combat environmental challenges, delving into the intricate dynamics of diplomacy within the conference halls. Canada’s Environment Minister, Steven Guilbeault, once a fervent advocate for climate action, now faces a unique challenge as he steps into the complex tapestry of COP28.

Guilbeault’s journey through COP28 takes an unexpected turn with the presence of Premier Danielle Smith and Premier Scott Moe of Alberta and Saskatchewan. Their approach to the conference diverges from the global narrative of reducing reliance on fossil fuels, appearing more inclined towards sustaining the fossil fuel industry in their provinces.

Analysis: Alberta could lead the energy transition. But Danielle Smith’s approach and Ottawa’s subsidies are a toxic combination

May 31, 2023

Premier Smith ardently champions Alberta’s “clean” fossil fuel industry, particularly emphasizing carbon capture and storage (CCS) as a solution to cut emissions. However, recent reports from the International Energy Agency cast doubt on the global efficacy of CCS, challenging its status as a transformative solution.

As Premier Smith confidently strides into COP28, accompanied by over a hundred Alberta delegates, the inherent conflict of interest becomes apparent. The conference, hosted by Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO of the UAE’s national oil company, ADNOC, and the UAE’s climate envoy, raises suspicions of a conflict of interest, especially with leaked documents indicating Al Jaber’s intention to broker oil and gas deals during the conference.

This sets the stage for an uncomfortable encounter between Smith and Guilbeault. Smith’s dismissal of Guilbeault as a “maverick” who “doesn’t seem to care about the Constitution” adds a layer of tension. While the federal government’s alignment with Alberta on promoting carbon capture and storage might offer a semblance of common ground, Smith’s move to invoke the sovereignty act against federal Clean Electricity Regulations hints at a deeper divide.

News: COP28: UAE planned to use climate talks to make oil deals

November 18, 2022

Guilbeault, tasked with advancing Canada’s commitment to fighting climate change, finds himself navigating a complex diplomatic landscape. As Premier Smith revels in her pro-oil-and-gas message, Guilbeault stands at the forefront, grappling with the clash between provincial and federal interests. It’s a delicate dance where finding common ground may prove elusive, especially considering the apparent disparity between the goals of the Prairie premiers and the broader global agenda for sustainability.

In this complex diplomatic ballet at COP28, Guilbeault represents the struggle to reconcile conflicting interests for the greater environmental good, a task that becomes even more challenging in the face of the unabashed promotion of fossil fuels under the guise of environmental responsibility by Prairie premiers.

The challenges at COP28 are not just about the global fight against climate change but also the nuanced struggles within the delegation halls. Steven Guilbeault finds himself at the heart of this intricate dance, striving to balance conflicting interests while championing the broader environmental agenda. (AI)

Saturday November 4, 2023

November 4, 2023 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday November 4, 2023

The Frustration of Steven Guilbeault, Once an Activist, Now a Minister Facing Carbon Tax Flip-Flops

October 28, 2021

Steven Guilbeault, Canada’s Environment Minister, faces a perplexing shift within the Liberal government, causing internal conflict with his former activist stance on climate change. The recent about-face in policy decisions appears to be a move aimed at reviving plummeting polls, especially in Atlantic Canada. Guilbeault, who once championed climate change causes, may find himself increasingly frustrated by the governmental reversals he’s now a part of.

A month ago, Guilbeault adamantly stood by the federal mandate for a net-zero power grid by 2035, dismissing requests from Alberta for an extended timeline. This firm stance faced opposition from Alberta’s Environment Minister, Rebecca Schulz, and Premier Danielle Smith, who vocally criticized the Clean Electricity Regulations (CER) as impractical and disconnected from reality, potentially leading to blackouts in a province heavily reliant on natural gas.

Analysis: Playing defence on the carbon tax has put Trudeau’s Liberals on the defensive

February 3, 2023

Guilbeault, defending the federal regulation, emphasized the necessity to avoid exceptions for provinces, highlighting the importance of a unified approach across the federation. However, the subsequent announcement of an exemption for home-heating oil in Atlantic Canada saw a complete reversal from the federal government’s firm stance. This shift provoked further demands from other provinces, including Saskatchewan and Alberta, for similar exemptions in their regions.

The stark contrast between Guilbeault’s initial commitment and the recent exemptions, particularly for home-heating oil, suggests a significant departure from the consistent climate-focused policies he once advocated for. The exemptions raised concerns about the logical inconsistency and fairness of the carbon tax application. This move has left the Liberals in a defensive position, contradicting their previous arguments about the carbon tax rebate.

The internal discord within the Liberal government and the public critique underscore the complexity of policy implementation and the pressure faced by the Liberals to address concerns in Atlantic Canada. Despite the ongoing debates and mounting pressure for additional exemptions, Guilbeault maintains a resolute stance against further carve-outs as long as he holds the environment minister position.

Opinion: Trudeau’s new carbon pricing rules are really a not so subtle bribe

The federal government, led by Justin Trudeau, is making changes to its climate policy, which primarily benefit Atlantic Canada. These changes include increased rural rebates and exemptions for home heating oil from the carbon tax. This has generated mixed reactions and debates.

October 28, 2023

The Liberals’ strategy to navigate the current political storm remains unclear. While attempting to address concerns in Atlantic Canada, the exemptions granted may have inadvertently compounded the challenges faced by the government, inviting criticism and intensifying the existing political turbulence.

Ultimately, the government’s recent decisions seem to have created more complexities than resolutions, fostering doubts about the coherence and consistency of their climate policy agenda. As Guilbeault, once an advocate, grapples with these policy shifts, the government faces an uphill battle to justify their recent actions while maintaining the integrity of their climate initiatives. (AI)

From sketch to finish, see the current way Graeme completes an editorial cartoon using an iPencil, the Procreate app, and a couple of cheats on an iPad Pro. If you’re creative, give illustration a try:

Friday February 3, 2023

February 3, 2023 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday February 3, 2023

Federal Environment Minister might intervene in Ontario’s Greenbelt development plan

October 28, 2021

Federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault says he might try to stop some of the development that could result from Ontario’s plans to allow housing on once-protected Greenbelt lands, warning that the province’s move defies efforts to prepare for climate change.

The Minister made the remarks at a news conference in Toronto on Thursday, while responding to questions from the environment-focused online publication The Narwhal.

Mr. Guilbeault was taking aim at Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s move last month to remove 3,000 hectares from the Greenbelt – an 800,000-hectare protected area of farmland and countryside that arcs around the Greater Toronto Area – to allow developers to build 50,000 homes. The plan would also add 3,800 hectares elsewhere to the protected area. Mr. Ford had previously promised that he would not open the Greenbelt to development.

Mr. Guilbeault did not detail specifically what he is considering doing, but he said Ontario’s plan “flies in the face of everything we’re trying to do in terms of being better prepared for the impacts of climate change.”

The Narwhal says the Minister warned that the federal government “will be looking at the potential use of federal tools to stop some of these projects.”

November 9, 2022

Mr. Guilbeault suggested he could use federal species-at-risk legislation if any proposed development threatened the survival of vulnerable animal populations. The federal government did this in 2016, when it blocked a housing development in a Montreal suburb over concerns about western chorus frog habitat.

“You can imagine that if similar projects were to be proposed on lands that were part of the Greenbelt, then I have a legislative obligation to intervene,” Mr. Guilbeault said, according to the Narwhal.

He also mentioned Ottawa’s Impact Assessment Act, which is already being used to scrutinize Mr. Ford’s Highway 413, a proposed expressway that would carve through Greenbelt land.

The sharp federal criticism of the Ontario Premier emerged just days before a Feb. 7 meeting between Canada’s premiers and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to hash out a health care funding deal.

January 12, 2023

Mr. Guilbeault was speaking at an event marking $8-million in federal funding for nature conservation projects. He also had harsh words for the Ontario government’s plans to restrict the powers of the province’s local conservation authorities to intervene in ecologically sensitive development plans. He called the legislation “terrible” and said he was “saddened and shocked” by the changes.

Last month, Parks Canada said the opening of Greenbelt lands close to the Rouge National Urban Park, on the eastern flank of Toronto, could cause “irreversible harm” to the park’s wildlife and ecosystems. (The Globe & Mail)

Thursday October 28, 2021

October 28, 2021 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday October 28, 2021

New environment minister faces questions about past activism

Canada’s new environment minister says his past as an activist should not raise alarms in the energy industry or the office of Alberta’s premier.

April 20, 2019

“I don’t have a secret agenda as environment minister,” Steven Guilbeault said today after the first meeting in Ottawa of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s new cabinet. “It’s a government effort to tackle … what many consider one of humanity’s greatest challenges, which is climate change.”

Guilbeault said the government’s plan to fight climate change is “very clear” and most of it — such as carbon pricing and the push for more public transit and cleaner energy sources — is “already known.”

January 26, 2021

The Trudeau government has committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 40 to 45 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030.

Before entering electoral politics in 2019, the Quebec MP co-founded Équiterre, a Quebec-based environmental organization, and was the director of a provincial chapter of Greenpeace. He spoke out against pipeline projects, including the Trans Mountain expansion.

May 14, 2019

Guilbeault also took part in stunts to draw attention to environmental causes.

In 2001, Guilbeault was arrested after scaling Toronto’s CN Tower to raise awareness of climate change. In 2002, he was involved in a Greenpeace stunt that saw activists climb onto the roof of then Alberta premier Ralph Klein’s house to install solar panels.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said Tuesday that Guilbeault’s appointment to the environment portfolio sends a “very problematic message” to the province.

April 11, 2018

“I certainly hope that [Guilbeault] … will quickly demonstrate to Alberta, and other resource-producing provinces, a desire to work together constructively on practical solutions that don’t end up killing hundreds of thousands of jobs,” Kenney said.

Asked about Kenney’s comments, Guilbeault said oil companies already recognize that more needs to be done to tackle climate change and that many already have agreed to hit net-zero emissions by 2050. He also noted that the new mayor of Calgary, Jyoti Gondek, wants the city to declare a climate emergency.

Canadians made it clear in the recent federal election campaign that they want “not just the federal government but all governments to do more” to address climate change, he said. (CBC)