OTTAWA -- A Canadian minister on Thursday resigned from Prime Minister Mark Carney's cabinet, strongly opposing an oil pipeline deal signed the same day.

Languages Minister Steven Guilbeault's departure occurred just hours after the Canadian federal government and the oil-producing Canadian province of Alberta agreed to advance the development of a private-sector pipeline capable of transporting at least 1 million barrels per day of low-emission bitumen.

He has served as Carney's official languages minister since May and minister of Canadian identity and culture since March. Previously, he has held various cabinet positions, including minister of environment and climate change.

"I remain one of those for whom environmental issues must remain front and center. That is why I strongly oppose the Memorandum of understanding between the federal government and the government of Alberta," Guilbeault said in a statement posted on X.

Under the terms of the deal, the federal government confirmed that the pipeline will enable the export of bitumen from a strategic deep-water port to Asian markets.