Just Transition

If Canada is to successfully transition to a low carbon economy, we must put the brakes on the fossil fuel industry. We must ensure that the jobs and the communities that are currently economically dependent on these industries have the means and the support to successfully transition towards good, sustainable jobs.

The transition will not be easy in an economy where the fossil fuel industry unfortunately still has a powerful hold. Against the background of a climate emergency, the federal government must proactively manage the transition with ambitious legislation in order to enable the necessary transformation of the labour market. Its action plan must include comprehensive, effective measures to drive a successful transformation and ensure that no one is left behind.

Recognizing the social impacts of moving away from fossil fuels— which we’ve been fighting for for a long time—Équiterre, along with other environmental groups and unions, has long been calling on the federal government to pass just transition legislation. We need this legislation in order to properly prepare and adapt workplaces and communities to the realities and challenges of the transition, ensuring that no one is left behind.

In January 2023, we submitted proposals for a Canadian Just Transition Act, calling for the process to be guided by an independent advisory body and based on social dialogue.

In June, the federal government tabled its Act respecting accountability, transparency and engagement to support the creation of sustainable jobs for workers and economic growth in a net-zero economy. While the planned legislation is a step in the right direction, we identified a number of significant shortcomings. Équiterre and its partners are therefore lobbying the government to improve the bill so that it is truly inclusive and effective towards achieving our target of carbon neutrality by 2050.

A just transition represents not only an opportunity to reconfigure the Canadian economy, but also to contribute to attaining broader economic, social and environmental goals, such as:

• Reaching Canada's climate targets;

• Mitigating the impact of the transition on workers and communities;

• Creating good, low-carbon jobs;

• Sharing the benefits of the transition;

• Advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples;

• Tackling inequalities;

• Establishing a circular and regenerative economy in which everyone can benefit.

A just transition requires the participation of a broad range of stakeholders. All levels of government in Canada, Indigenous communities, employers, unions, workers and civil society must all be part of the conversation.