Mark Carney’s stance on oil and gas, explained

Montrealers lined up around the block on a chilly March evening as they waited to enter one of the final Liberal leadership campaign events of then-Liberal leadership contender Mark Carney.

It just so happened to be held at a venue in downtown Montreal, in the riding of then-environment minister Steven Guilbeault.

Guilbeault warmed up the crowd and endorsed Carney before he turned the podium over to Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, who formally introduced their preferred leadership candidate.

Moments later, the crowd roared in approval as Carney pledged to promote sustainable growth and turn Canada into a clean energy superpower.

Little did they know, by the following week, Carney would be Canada’s 24th prime minister and Guilbeault would no longer be the environment minister.

Apart from hinting at some larger themes, Carney has not yet talked about his environmental policies in detail. He has certainly not yet spelled out clear plans to address emissions from the oil and gas industry, which is described by the federal government as the country’s largest source of climate-warming carbon pollution.

Despite the lack of details, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has said she believes Carney is on a “warpath” against the energy industry and sees him as an adversary — not an ally.

On Friday, Guilbeault was shuffled from his position in cabinet, taking on a new role as minister of Canadian culture and identity. Guilbeault’s position also includes oversight of Parks Canada.

His removal from the environment portfolio could be perceived as an olive branch to an oil and gas industry that sees Guilbeault’s history as an environmental activist as a lightning rod.

It comes on the eve of an anticipated election campaign showdown with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Green Party co-leaders Jonathan Pedneault and Elizabeth May.

Poilievre has already…