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Consider it a snapshot of how what happens in Ottawa can quickly resonate in Quebec:
A controversial pipeline agreement between Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith triggered a chain of events that included a cabinet resignation, a cabinet shuffle and — eventually — a fiery debate about the French language that involved Quebec’s premier, the leader of sovereigntist Parti Québécois and some of the province’s cultural associations.
And all of this happened within about a week.
Here’s how it all unfolded.
WATCH | A breakdown of the events:
How an Alberta pipeline deal reignited a Quebec language controversy
In less than one week, the agreement that paved the way for a pipeline from Alberta to the B.C. coast reawakened a debate in Quebec about the French language.
Guilbeault quits cabinet over pipeline agreement
Last month, Steven Guilbeault learned through a CBC report that the federal government intended to relax some of its environmental regulations as part of a deal with Alberta for a potential future pipeline to the B.C. coast — and he was horrified.
Before entering politics, Guilbeault was known as a staunch environmentalist. He helped found the advocacy organization Équiterre and also joined Greenpeace Canada.
Guilbeault made the jump into politics in 2019, joining the federal Liberals and he was named environment minister in 2021.
After Carney decided to roll back environmental regulations in favour of a potential pipeline, the Montreal-based MP told Radio-Canada’s talk show Tout le monde en parle that the Alberta deal was the “last straw” — and he resigned as minister.
When he resigned, Guilbeault was minister of Canadian culture and identity and minister of official languages.
Quebec Premier François Legault, seen here during a news conference at the National Assembly on Oct. 30, 2025, was quick to respond this week to Marc Miller’s comments about the French language. (Sylvain Roy Roussel/CBC/Radio-Canada)Marc Miller takes over, then quickly sparks controversy
Carney gave both files to another Quebec MP: Marc Miller.
Miller had been a minister under former prime minister Justin Trudeau, notably handling the immigration file between 2023 and 2025.
On several occasions during that period, he got into public arguments with the Quebec government over questions of immigration and identity.
He also repeatedly refused to acknowledge the decline of French in Quebec.
It didn’t take long for Miller to spark a new war of words with Premier François Legault after re-entering cabinet.
During a scrum on Tuesday, he stressed that the French language is in a precarious position throughout North America, but isn’t on the decline in Quebec.
“As a Quebecer, I’m pretty fed up with this debate that is generally identity-based,” Miller said in French during a scrum on Tuesday.
His new comments prompted a pretty serious reaction from Legault, who called Miller a “disgrace to all Quebecers.”
“I don’t know how he’ll be able to show up at a cultural activity in Quebec after saying nonsense like that,” Legault told reporters on Tuesday.
Miller said he was hurt by the premier’s comments and that he had already proven that he took the vitality of the French language seriously.
In an interview with Radio-Canada, PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon said the comments made by some members of Quebec’s culture scene are ‘incompatible’ with preserving the French language’s cultural viability in Quebec. (Sylvain Roussel/CBC)PQ not happy as Quebec’s culture scene welcomes Miller
The same day Legault lashed out at Miller, representatives of several Quebec cultural associations welcomed Miller as the country’s new culture minister.
That prompted Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon to come out on social media and say he was “embarrassed” and “ashamed” that some in Quebec would praise Miller after his recent comments about the French language.
He accused the Quebec cultural groups of disloyalty to the province.
“How disconnected from political events in Quebec and Canada must one be? How deep in denial about what is happening with French culture in Quebec must one be?” he said.
“I am sad to see that those who represent the soul of Quebec, at a time when our French-language future is at stake, seem to have little thought or sensitivity.”
Tania Kontoyanni, the president of the Union des artistes, a union that represents Quebec artists, said she was shaken and saddened by the PQ leader’s comments.
“We shouldn’t be focusing on immature arguments right now. What we need to do is to bear down and work together for the survival of our culture.”
Sol Zanetti, the co-spokesperson of Québec Solidaire, the other sovereigntist party at the National Assembly, described St-Pierre Plamondon’s comments as “unacceptable.”
“Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon must apologize,” Zanetti said. “It makes no sense to say that.”
Word gets back to Ottawa
The verbal jousting at the Quebec level did make its way back to the House of Commons this week.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre questioned Carney’s decision to appoint Miller as federal culture minister.
“Of all the Liberal MPs, why did [Carney] choose to appoint an MP that is so fed up with French?” Poilievre said.
“We, Conservatives, we aren’t fed up,” he said, promising to “defend the French language and Quebec culture.”
In response to Poilievre, Carney said he supports Miller but did not address the Montreal MP’s comments on French.