For seven years, the Government of Canada has been working on strategies, investing and improving regulations to help Canada become the clean energy and technology supplier of choice in a net-zero world. This plan features partnership with provinces and territories, including via the Regional Energy and Resource Tables. It also includes the February 2023 release of the Interim Sustainable Jobs Plan, which spoke to the work to be done to seize the economic opportunities that will be enabled through a move to a low-carbon future.

“Canada is executing its plan to become the clean energy and technology supplier of choice in a net-zero world. With this legislation, the federal government is taking yet another step forward to ensure that Canada’s workers have the skills and support necessary to seize this generational opportunity.”

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson

Minister of Natural Resources

“Workers will lead our energy transition. It’s workers who know how to build up renewables and lower emissions. We need them. We need more of them.”

The Honourable Seamus O’Regan Jr.

Minister of Labour 

“Canadian workers are and will continue to be well-positioned for the transition to a net-zero economy. This plan puts workers at the centre of policy and decision-making that will make sure we have the skilled labour force needed to help build a more sustainable Canada.”

The Honourable Carla Qualtrough
Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion

“The Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act is a step toward a future that puts the interests of energy workers at the forefront of a low-carbon economy. We look forward to continuing to work with the government to ensure that workers benefit from the opportunities created through this legislation.”

Patrick Campbell
Canadian Director, International Union of Operating Engineers

“The proposed Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act is the latest milestone in ongoing efforts to protect workers as the economy transitions to net zero. Unifor is ready to provide the federal government with the guidance necessary to ensure this legislation works for workers.”

Lana Payne
Unifor National President

“With the Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act, which resulted from the Supply and Confidence Agreement, we have an opportunity to establish a better model for collaboration between workers, their unions, industry and governments. This can give Canada a competitive advantage in the new global low-carbon economy, while ensuring benefits for workers and communities.”

Bea Bruske
President, Canadian Labour Congress

“Through this legislation, the Government of Canada has demonstrated its commitment to protecting good-paying, highly skilled jobs. The Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act, established through the Confidence and Supply Agreement, supports our calls for unions, industry and governments to be working together to ensure that workers are the focus and a blueprint is established to create good-paying jobs in a net-zero economy. The IBEW’s almost 70,000 members in Canada are ready to help build the next generation of Canada’s vital energy infrastructure to help us reach our net-zero goals.”

Russ Shewchuk
IBEW International Vice President for the First District (Canada)

“Canada’s Building Trades Unions welcome the Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act, tabled today in the House of Commons. We have, and will continue to work closely with the government on this important legislation because workers must be at the forefront of the transition to net zero, one of the greatest economic transformations of our time. One needs to only look back to the passing of the Canada-U.S. free trade agreement in 1987 as an example of the devastating impacts major policy initiatives can have on workers. Lack of meaningful consultation resulted in a large decline of the workforce and a loss of good jobs with many workers never returning to the same quality of job that had been lost. That is why Canada’s Building Trades Unions are pleased that this government is conducting meaningful consultation with labour on the transition to net zero, through the Sustainable Partnership Council included in today’s legislation, to ensure workers are front and centre during this transition.”

Sean Strickland
Executive Director of Canada’s Building Trades Unions.

• The Royal Bank of Canada estimates that building a net-zero economy could create up to 400,000 new jobs in Canada by the end of this decade alone.

• As of last fall, Canadian employers were trying to fill more than one million job vacancies. A significant number of those vacancies (243,400) were in the professional, scientific, technical, construction and manufacturing sectors, which were already facing labour shortages before the pandemic.

• It is anticipated that an aging population and declining workforce participation will add to labour shortages over the long term. It is estimated that some 600,000 workers may retire over the next three years.

• In February 2023, the government released the Sustainable Jobs Plan, announcing 10 key actions to further objectives on sustainable jobs, including the Regional Energy and Resource Tables. 

• NRCan held consultations on the Sustainable Jobs Plan and legislation starting in August 2021. A total of 17 engagement sessions were held with nearly 190 participants, and more than 30,000 emails and 75 detailed submissions from Canadian organizations were received. Feedback was also gathered from engaging with every province and territory.

Associated links

• Sustainable Jobs Plan
• Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act
• Government of Canada releases interim Sustainable Jobs Plan to enable the creation of good, middle-class jobs across Canada

Natural Resources Canada
Media Relations
343-292-6100
media@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

Keean Nembhard
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Natural Resources
613-323-7892
keean.nembhard@NRCan-RNCan.gc.ca