In a dramatic political upheaval, Canadian Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault has resigned from the federal cabinet, protesting a sweeping energy agreement signed between Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. The deal, announced Thursday, paves the way for a new heavy oil pipeline to the Pacific Coast, a move that has exposed profound fissures within the government and the nation over climate policy and economic development. The agreement marks a significant pivot in Canada's energy strategy. The federal government will dismantle key environmental regulations, including the planned emissions cap on the oil and gas sector and clean electricity rules, while adjusting the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act. In exchange, Alberta has committed to strengthening its industrial carbon pricing and investing billions in carbon capture technology. The proposed pipeline, intended to ship one million barrels of low-emission bitumen daily to Asian markets, is seen by proponents as crucial for economic diversification. Prime Minister Carney justified the decision by citing US trade pressures, warning that $50 billion—or $1,300 per Canadian—is at risk, with 90% of Canada's oil exports currently going to a single market. This policy shift, however, exacted an immediate political cost. Minister Guilbeault, a former Environment Minister and lifelong environmentalist, announced his resignation with "great sadness." In a public statement, he declared the pipeline incompatible with Canada's climate commitments, asserting it would have "major environmental impacts" and move the nation "further away from its greenhouse gas reduction targets." The deal has elicited starkly contrasting reactions. It was hailed by the oil industry and Premier Smith, who predicted it would "unleash investment" in Alberta. Carney himself called it a "great day for Alberta and a great day for Canada." Yet, opposition is formidable. British Columbia Premier David Eby opposes the new route and the lifting of the tanker ban, suggesting capacity expansion of the existing, government-owned Trans Mountain pipeline instead. Furthermore, a coalition of Indigenous groups in British Columbia has issued a defiant statement, vowing they "will not allow oil tankers on the northwest coast" and that the project will "never happen." The resignation of a high-profile minister underscores the deep divisions within Carney's minority government. With the project facing stiff legal and political opposition from British Columbia, First Nations, and environmentalists, the pipeline pact has not only triggered a cabinet crisis but also set the stage for a protracted national conflict.