1. Steven Guilbeault was previously the Minister of Canadian Heritage from 2019 to 2021 and the Minister of Environment and Climate Change from 2021 to 2025.
27 Facts About Steven Guilbeault
1. 2.
Steven Guilbeault stepped down as senior director and spokesperson for Equiterre in November 2018, and in July 2019 was nominated as a federal Liberal candidate in the 2019 election.
3.
When he was five years old in his hometown of La Tuque in Haute-Mauricie, Steven Guilbeault refused to get down from a tree that he had climbed, in an effort to block a land developer from clearing a wooded area behind his home.
4.
Steven Guilbeault minored in theology, exploring questions of international morality, liberation theology, poverty and the environment.
5.
Steven Guilbeault became president of his faculty's student association and took part in activities organized by Equitas.
6.
Steven Guilbeault was active in the, where he made the acquaintance of Francois Rebello and Nicolas Girard, who would later enter the world of politics.
7.
Steven Guilbeault joined the, created out of the protest movement spearheaded by Ralph Nader, the renowned American consumer advocate.
8.
Steven Guilbeault was a member of Equiterre's board of directors for many years.
9.
Steven Guilbeault was put in charge of its climate change division and he managed the climate and energy campaign before being the organization's Quebec bureau chief in 2000.
10.
On four occasions, Steven Guilbeault made headlines for Greenpeace, such as when he scaled Toronto's CN Tower in 2001, accompanied by British activist Chris Holden.
11.
The stunt cost the CN Tower Corporation an estimated $50,000, and Steven Guilbeault was sentenced to one year's probation and the court ordered him to pay a portion of costs.
12.
Steven Guilbeault remained Greenpeace's Quebec spokesperson until June 8,2007, at which time he announced his resignation.
13.
Steven Guilbeault sat on the board of the from 2007 to 2009 and chaired the Committee on Emerging Renewable Energy from 2009 to 2011 for the Government of Quebec.
14.
Steven Guilbeault sat on the climate change advisory committees of three successive Quebec governments: Jean Charest's Liberals, Pauline Marois' Parti Quebecois, and subsequently co-chairing the committee formed by Philippe Couillard's Liberal government starting in 2014.
15.
Stephane Dion, a former federal Cabinet minister, remarked that Steven Guilbeault "is among the select few in the environmental community with whom it is important to remain in contact, because his reactions and his opinions will count".
16.
Steven Guilbeault worked as a senior consultant for Deloitte and Touche, and served as co-chair of Climate Action Network International for five years.
17.
Steven Guilbeault chaired the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal's Committee on Sustainable Development from 2007 to 2010.
18.
Since 2009, Steven Guilbeault is listed as a founding member of Cycle Capital Management, and since has been a strategic consultant for the venture capital fund, which is dedicated to developing clean technologies.
19.
On November 20,2019, Steven Guilbeault was named as the Trudeau government's minister of Canadian heritage, succeeding Pablo Rodriguez.
20.
In 2021, Steven Guilbeault introduced a bill to amend 1991's Broadcasting Act, to modernize the legislation to include online broadcasting services.
21.
Steven Guilbeault has stated that users with a large social media presence could be considered "broadcasters," and thus be subject to government oversight and regulations.
22.
Steven Guilbeault's appointment drew heavy commentary, with his background as a former environmental activist attracting both praise and criticism.
23.
In March 2022, Steven Guilbeault issued the first Emissions Reduction Plan under the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act.
24.
On March 14,2025, Steven Guilbeault was named to the newly created position of Minister of Canadian Culture and Identity, Parks Canada as well as the Quebec lieutenant in Mark Carney's cabinet.
25.
Steven Guilbeault is an honorary fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society.
26.
Steven Guilbeault was recognized as one of the 35 most influential figures in the past 35 years by the Fondation Marie-Vincent in 2010 and as an Americas Leader by the US magazine Americas Quarterly.
27.
In 2016, Steven Guilbeault received the award recognizing his contribution to the vitality of the French language and French culture.