Federal Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson has tabled Bill C-50, the Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act in the House of Commons, respecting accountability, transparency and engagement to support the creation of sustainable jobs for workers and economic growth in a net-zero economy.

The bill implements some of the measures outlined in the interim Sustainable Jobs Plan released by the federal government last February. This includes creating a Sustainable Jobs Partnership Council to advise the government on clean energy jobs, requiring that Ottawa come up with a sustainable jobs plan every five years, and establishing a Sustainable Jobs Secretariat which would oversee the government’s work on building a clean energy sector. The legislation was written after consultations with Indigenous groups, provinces and territories, and Canadian energy sector experts across different industries. The government claims that the bill will help support the creation of sustainable energy jobs.

As many of our own members work in fields affected by the shifts in the energy market, we will be monitoring this bill closely as it’s debated and refined in our federal Parliament. It’s our belief that in order to ensure a prosperous future for workers in Alberta, we must support all new energy developments. Rather than replacing one industry with another, we must build a diverse, sustainable and vibrant energy sector.

We in the Building Trades of Alberta are working towards building a dynamic workforce by engaging with innovators in nuclear, renewable and oil & gas energy to create long-lasting opportunities for our members. We will continue to work with all levels of government to protect the interests of all of our members and create a vibrant workforce for Alberta’s future.

To learn more about the Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act, click here.