Varcoe: Guilbeault out, Wilkinson stays as energy boss in Carney cabinet, as wary oilpatch watches

Meet the new energy boss, same as the old boss — exactly the same, in the case of Canada’s natural resources minister. New Prime Minister Mark Carney named his cabinet on Friday, putting Vancouver MP Jonathan Wilkinson back in charge of energy and natural resources, while shifting Steven Guilbeault out of the environment ministry. “Energy and natural resources is one of the most critical roles for the government at this time, vis-a-vis the United States, but also just generally, from an economic development perspective,” Wilkinson said in an interview Friday.

For the Canadian energy sector, Wilkinson is a known commodity, a move that offers some stability during a period of chaos with the country’s largest trading partner over tariffs. Guilbeault was also well-known, a proponent of pursuing tougher climate action, and was widely seen across the industry as an opponent of growing Canada’s oil and gas sector. For those looking for a sea change in how the federal government views energy and the environment – two key departments for Alberta – they’ll remain wary until there’s a demonstrable shift in policies.



“I don’t care who they put in. They can put Mickey Mouse in there and it’s not going to make any difference,” said Bob Geddes, president of Calgary-based Ensign Energy Services, one of the country’s largest drillers. Others are more hopeful.

They note Guilbeault needed to be moved out of the environment portfolio if there was to be any chance of rebuilding a strained relationship with Ottawa. He is now the minister of Canadian culture and identity, and the Quebec lieutenant. Wilkinson is generally seen as someone the province and industry can talk to on key files, including on carbon capture, utilization and storage .

But is the federal government suddenly prepared to promote the sector’s expansion — including approving new pipelines and LNG projects — during a tumultuous time surrounding energy security, a trade war and climate concerns? “To be fair, we’ve found Minister Wilkinson open to having conversations and, at many times, collaborative in relation to the industry, especially as of late,” said Tristan Goodman, president of the Explorers and Producers Association of Canada. Janet Annesley, who was chief of staff to former Liberal natural resources minister Jim Carr, said Wilkinson understands the drivers of the energy business, but points out decision-making authority on key matters, such as dealing with major projects, remains outside the department’s hands. And everything continues to be seen through the environmental and decarbonization lens.

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