Hello, welcome to Politics Insider. Let’s look at what happened today.
Former Liberal environment minister Steven Guilbeault is expected to announce he is leaving Prime Minister Mark Carney’s caucus as early as Wednesday, two Liberal sources told The Globe and Mail.
Marieke Walsh and Stephanie Levitz report that the sources said that they expect the career environmentalist from Quebec will also quit as a member of Parliament, though one of them cautioned that plan could still change.
Guilbeault has represented the downtown Montreal riding of Laurier-Sainte-Marie since 2019.
Three other sources said Guilbeault is expected to address Parliament on Wednesday. One of those sources said Guilbeault has also scheduled a gathering with current and former staff after his speech in the House of Commons.
The Globe and Mail is not identifying the sources, who were not authorized to discuss the confidential plans.
Guilbeault resigned from Mr. Carney’s cabinet in November over his disagreement with the government’s energy accord with Alberta and its dismantling of marquee climate policies from the Trudeau era.
Expectations that Guilbeault would break entirely with the Liberals have ramped up in recent weeks, as Carney solidified his agreement with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith to clear the way for a new oil pipeline to the West Coast and overhaul and speed up environmental assessments.
In other news, India’s top diplomat in Canada says CSIS has been politically compromised and that the RCMP are investigating “fantasy” allegations that Indian officials are involved in crimes against Canadians.
Greg Mercer and Mike Hager report that, in a sweeping interview with The Globe and Mail, High Commissioner Dinesh Patnaik went on the offensive, attacking the integrity of Canada’s national-security agencies, while pushing back against assertions from Canadian authorities that the government of India has directed multiple homicide plots and foreign-interference campaigns on Canadian soil.
Patnaik asserted that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service has been compromised by Sikh separatists using Canada as a base for their campaign to carve out a breakaway state in northwest India, which they call Khalistan.
He said the investigation into the 2023 slaying of B.C. activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar has been “twisted around” and politicized – adding that while the RCMP is an “independent, very good organization,” in the past the force had been “susceptible to political direction.”
Liberal MP Steven Guilbeault makes his way to a meeting of the Liberal caucus on Parliament Hill in December, 2025.Justin Tang/The Canadian Press
What else is going on
Wab Kinew criticizes Danielle Smith over duty to consult First Nations on secession referendum: Manitoba Premier Kinew today called out Alberta Premier Smith’s interpretation of a government’s responsibility to First Nations before Alberta chooses to hold an independence referendum.
Ebola concerns prompt Ottawa to halt processing immigration documents for three African countries: The new measures, which take effect Wednesday, were announced today after a meeting by Prime Minister Mark Carney’s cabinet, and target the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and South Sudan.
Bank of Canada warns of ‘low-hire, low-fire’ job market that complicates rate decisions: Prolonged, lacklustre conditions in the job market may lead to lasting damage to workers’ prospects, according to the central bank, and complicate its decision making on interest rates.
Majority of party members likely to back Alberta separation, United Conservative Party president says: Rob Smith, who heads the UCP’s board of directors, said the party will not pick a side in the lead-up to the separation vote, in which Albertans will decide if the province should stay in Canada, or start the legal process to hold a second, binding vote on secession.
Ksi Lisims reaches deal for LNG project with German utility SEFE: Germany’s state-owned utility Securing Energy for Europe or SEFE has agreed to a financial arrangement that would strengthen the planned Ksi Lisims LNG project in British Columbia.
Canada’s Sentinel to build drones for Ukraine through joint venture: The partnership is moving ahead with a government-to-government arrangement set to be signed at CANSEC, a major defence conference being held in Ottawa on May 27 and 28.
On our radar
Prime Minister’s Day: Mark Carney chaired a cabinet meeting and attended Question Period.
Party Leaders: No schedules provided for party leaders.
Ministers on the Road:
In Toronto, International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu and Piyush Goyal, India’s commerce and industry minister, delivered opening remarks at a ministerial plenary with Canadian and Indian businesspeople.
In Ottawa, Defence Minister David McGuinty hosted Poland’s Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz at National Defence Headquarters.
Quotes of the Day
“So, I’m a good friend of Steven. I have worked a lot to bring him in politics and he will always be a good friend. I also think that I’m part of much more the environmentalist part of – of the Liberal Party and cabinet, but I also think that what we’ve done with the MOU makes sense, because I also think that we need to be able to have one of the most important provinces that is the main energy producer in Canada part of our plan." - Industry Minister Mélanie Joly, arriving for today’s cabinet meeting, comments on the prospect of former environment minister Steven Guilbeault leaving the Liberal caucus.
“I have them in my backyard. You’re afraid to walk your dog out there. We have a coyote problem. But you’re going to think the cheese slipped off the cracker with me. One night I am sitting there and they must have made a kill because they are screeching. I don’t know if you’ve ever heard them, but they’re screeching. So I went out there and howled like a wolf. They stopped instantly. Honestly. I’ve got to tape this for you guys. So they figured the big wolf is around the corner.” - Ontario Premier Doug Ford, at Queen’s Park in Toronto, talks to journalists about a coyote problem in his neighbourhood. The premier punctuated his remarks by demonstrating his howl.
Question period
How many referendums (or plebiscites) has the federal government held in Canadian history?
Scroll to the bottom of this newsletter for the answer.
Perspectives
A ban won’t shield kids from social media
It would be wonderful if we could take childhood back from the social-media giants with a simple ban. Sadly, the actual work needed to protect children is much harder. That work should respect teenagers’ autonomy but also recognize their vulnerability and the need for protection.
— The Globe and Mail Editorial Board
An `independent’ Alberta would be a way station on the path to 51st statehood
If you think building a new pipeline to tidewater is challenging as part of Canada, try to get your head around how difficult – by which I mean impossible – it will be if Alberta becomes a landlocked statelet.
— Tony Keller, columnist with The Globe and Mail
Should we care about faraway outbreaks of infectious disease?
Every new infectious disease threat offers up new lessons, opportunities to learn and adjust our behaviour.
— André Picard is a health reporter and columnist for The Globe and Mail,
Go deeper
- Follow along for our stories on Canada-U.S. relations as news develops
- Get the latest insight and analysis from our political opinion writers
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The answer to today’s question: Three. One in 1898 on Prohibition. Fifty-one per cent voted for a prohibition on alcohol, and 49 per cent voted against it. A second in 1942 on conscription. The Liberal government of former prime minister William Lyon Mackenzie King asked if Canadians were in favour of releasing them from a promise not to use conscripts in overseas military service. Sixty-six per cent voted yes, while 34 per cent voted no. A third in 1992 revolved around the Charlottetown accord, which proposed constitutional amendments. A total 54.2 per cent voted against it and 44.8 per cent voted for it.