History of the concept of a Just Transition in the Government of Canada
If you know all this stuff and just want to take ACTION, scroll down to the sections marked **TAKE ACTION.
But if you're still learning, welcome here and read on 😊
Simply put, a "Just Transition" is a move to a greener economy that attempts to leave no worker behind.
Some of the global history of a Just Transition is covered in: “Roadmap to a Canadian Just Transition Act: A path to a clean and inclusive economy”...produced in April 2021 by Hadrian Mertins-Kirkwood and Clay Duncalfe of the Canadian Centre for Policy
Alternatives (CCPA) SEE LINK
That global history shows that Canada is behind other countries in its move towards a Just Transition for workers. This is illustrated by the below (numbered) excerpts from that CCPA document, etc.
Some of the earliest examples of just transition principles being applied by governments around the world are in the context of coal phase out initiatives. But other examples include sectors other than coal:
1. "Since the 1970s, Denmark has cut coal production in half and increased the role of wind power in its energy sector by 40–50%."
2. "New Zealand formed a Just Transition Unit in 2017."
3. "In 2018 Germany established the Commission on Growth, Structural Change and Employment, aimed at ensuring a just transition for those employed within Germany’s remaining coal regions as it works toward meeting its climate mitigation targets through a nation-wide phase out of its nuclear and coal-based power generation systems."
4. "Also in 2018, Scotland formed its Just Transition Commission."
5. In Canada, the Just
Transition for coal workers was already promised by the Liberals in 2016, but
when layoffs actually began in Nov 2017, they still had not put anything in
place in advance of those layoffs. When
the layoffs began, the National Observer reported, “To say
that Canadian labour leader Hassan Yussuff was frustrated…. would be putting it
politely.” Therefore the Liberal "Just Transition for coal workers" was reactive instead of proactive.
In early 2019, in Canada, a Task Force provided two reports to the government on "how to make the transition away from coal-fired electricity a fair one for Canadian coal workers and communities." See link. In response, the government "committed $185 million to support coal power workers and communities." There was other funding for workers, but it was more general for workers "facing hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic." The Pembina Institute provides a history of Canada’s coal phase-out endeavours at this link. As of Nov 04, 2021, "Canada is weaning itself off thermal coal but keeps shipping it elsewhere." See link
5. "In 2020, the European Union unveiled its European Green Deal...As a part of this strategy, the EU
has introduced a Just Transition Mechanism."
6. Other initiatives have already begun in Ireland, France, New York State, Colorado, and California
So, apart from coal workers, where is Canada in all of this?
Our story begins with public pressure:
The September 2019 climate strikes, also known as the Global Week for Future, were a series of international strikes and protests to demand action be taken to address climate change, which took place from 20–27 September 2019.
These "strikes" also took place in Canada (see link).
With that public pressure, and with an election approaching, the government of Canada made the following promises:
Sep 23, 2019: Liberal Party Promises a Just Transition..... as a pre-election promise:
“Legally binding, five-year milestones for greenhouse gas reductions, tax incentives for cleantech businesses, and a Just Transition Act to support workers caught in a transforming economy are elements of a plan unveiled yesterday by Liberal leader Justin Trudeau to bring Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050.” Source: Energy Mix article at this link
“The climate change plan would include bringing in something called a "Just Transition Act" to give workers in affected sectors access to training, support and new opportunities to adapt to the transforming economy.” Source: CBC at this link
The 2019 Canadian federal election was held on October 21, 2019.
Dec 14, 2020: Hill Times Article: “Liberal ‘Just Transition’ bill should come before next budget, say union reps” The text below that headline reads, “Natural Resources Minister Seamus O’Regan is committed to a mandate that includes support for workers, says his spokesperson.” Source: Hill Times at this link
Then not much happened until ANOTHER potential election appeared on the horizon (eventually slated for Sep 20, 2021):
July 20, 2021 - Canada Launches Just Transition Engagement
Aug 31, 2021 - Liberals pledge $2 billion to aid just transition
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/08/31/news/liberals-pledge-2-billion-aid-just-transition
Aug 31, 2021: Liberal web page: Ensuring Workers and Communities Prosper As We Move to net-zero
https://liberal.ca/climate/ensuring-workers-and-communities-prosper-as-we-move-to-net-zero/
Here's a long quote from above Liberal Party link:
"Our goal is a future in which the energy workers and communities who built this country have even greater opportunities than they do today. Their skills and expertise are critical to building our net-zero future. They’re the ones who can, and will, lower emissions.
As we move towards a net zero future it is estimated that the growth in clean energy jobs will more than offset the declines in fossil fuel sectors. There will be opportunities for workers to install solar panels, drill for geothermal energy, or build carbon capture and storage projects. And a diverse and growing economy will create opportunities outside the energy sector, too.
We have to make sure that our workers have the training opportunities and support they need to take advantage of the changes that lie ahead. We are making the largest investment in training workers in Canadian history, with $1.7 billion to train and support workers across all sectors and all regions of the country. And we must take specific actions to help current oil and gas workers succeed, just as we have and will continue to invest in coal workers and communities, as we move away from coal-fired electricity by 2030.
A re-elected Liberal government will make sure energy workers and communities are at the heart of our approach to tackling climate change and building a prosperous net-zero economic future by:
Establishing a $2 billion Futures Fund for Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland and Labrador that will be designed in collaboration with local workers, unions, educational institutions, environmental groups, investors, and Indigenous peoples who know their communities best. We will support local and regional economic diversification and specific place-based strategies. Because we want to grow new job opportunities from the ground up and provide workers with the tools they need to succeed as we move to a net-zero future.
Moving forward with Just Transition Legislation, guided by the feedback we receive from workers, unions, Indigenous peoples, communities, and provinces and territories.
Creating more opportunities for women, LGBTQ2 and other underrepresented people in the energy sector. Because when we include everyone, we get the best.
Launching a Clean Jobs Training Centre to help industrial, skill and trade workers across sectors to upgrade or gain new skills to be on the leading edge of zero carbon industry.
More jobs
Ensuring Workers and Communities Prosper As We Move to net-zero
Accelerating Our net-zero Industrial Transformation
Critical Minerals and Batteries
A World-Leader in Clean technology
Growing the Market for Low Carbon Products
Cleaner communities"
End of long quote
&&&&&&&&&&&&&
September 20, 2021: Federal Election takes place. (now we'll see if they keep pre- election promises....again....)
Dec 16, 2021: Mandate Letters to Ministers include the following phrase:
Quote: “As Minister, I expect you to seek opportunities within your portfolio to support our whole-of-government effort to reduce emissions, create clean jobs and address the climate-related challenges communities are already facing.”
Source: https://pm.gc.ca/en/mandate-letters
That phrase is found in the following mandate letters (at least these, if not more):
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.
Minister of Labour
Minister of Natural Resources.
Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion.
Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Ongoing (govt of Canada): Just Transition
https://www.rncanengagenrcan.ca/en/collections/just-transition
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Feb 8, 2022: Federal government silent on Trudeau's promised Just Transition Act (Council of Canadians article)
https://canadians.org/analysis/federal-government-silent-trudeaus-promised-just-transition-act
Quote: “The response to our petition was written by three cabinet Ministers:
Minister of Natural Resources, Jonathan Wilkinson;
Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Steven Guilbeault
and Minister of Employment, Workforce Development, and Disability Inclusion, Irek Kusmierczyk
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Feb 10, 2022: “MP Seamus O'Regan, the federal labour minister, is … defending the [new Bay du Nord oil] project” https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/bay-du-nord-divisions-politics-1.6346794
This is bad news because the Labour Minister is key to a Just Transition for labour.
He is also the MP in Newfoundland which has enormous potential for wind power. Evidence is found at this link to the Wind Power Atlas (use their search engine for Newfoundland and Labrador.) If there is anyplace in Canada where there is a strong argument for a Just Transition it is in Newfoundland! They have so much wind power that they could, and should, be exporting it with transmission lines to cities closest to them....instead of exporting more oil from Bay du Nord. After all, Quebec exports power generated from green hydro power.
And yet the federal government has now twice delayed their decision about whether or not to go ahead with the Bay du Nord oil project in Newfoundland. See this link for their March 4, 2022 delay
Why are they waiting? What further evidence do they need? There have been enough delays and the climate clock is ticking.
**TAKE ACTION: The federal government is asking for YOUR public input on this oil project....AT THIS LINK. If you like, send them the link to this blog post.
March 11: New Announcement from the federal govt gets mixed reviews:
Here is a quote from the National Observer: (SEE LINK)
" Two days before Canadians across the country will come together in a show of widespread support for just transition legislation, the federal government announced a long-awaited next step to ensure “a just transition through the creation of sustainable jobs.”
On March 10, Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson and Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan Jr. formally launched the next round of the government's consultations on proposed legislation to “support the energy sector and ensure a just transition that creates sustainable, middle-class jobs for people and communities in every province and territory.”
This announcement is a really positive sign to Luisa Da Silva, executive director of Iron & Earth, an oilpatch worker-led organization trying to ensure a prosperous transition towards global carbon neutrality by 2050.
The release emphasizes skills training and support for workers, two things Iron & Earth tirelessly advocates for.
“The workers who built the energy system of the past definitely have the skills to build the energy system of the future,” Da Silva told Canada’s National Observer.
She also points out a key phrase in Ottawa’s announcement, which notes: “The government will ensure that legislation is reflective of current realities.”
This tells Da Silva that rather than just reacting, the government is “looking ahead and saying, ‘OK, here's our current situation for the current reality: this is what we have at our disposal, this is what we want to get to, what's that gap that we need to close, and here's how we're going to approach it.’”
...[HOWEVER]...
Environmental Defence’s climate and energy program manager Aliénor Rougeot cautions that while the announcement focuses on economic diversification and support for transitioning workers, there is no acknowledgment that “municipal governments and communities as a whole will have to deal with the loss of revenue and the change in revenue” as a result, and that these communities need supports of their own."
End of quote from National Observer.
My own observation:
Actually Aliénor Rougeot is right: entire communities need support. And that is exactly the analysis that came from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives already in April 2021. (Mentioned at the beginning of this post.) SEE LINK
On page 35 of that analysis in their chart depicting a "Proposed Framework / Program Delivery" it is proposed that the "Affected Communities" themselves "create the jobs" (after they receive infrastructure investments). It is also proposed in that chart that "Workers from marginalized groups, workers from affected communities, and Affected communities" should all "participate in stakeholder engagement." SEE LINK. See my modified version of that chart below:
In the above chart, Hadrian Mertins-Kirkwood and Clay Duncalfe of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives suggest that affected communities should create the jobs themselves at the local level.
Local level efforts have proven to be most effective as the below quote verifies:
"Renewable energy co-operatives generate up to eight times more local revenue than a project carried out by an external enterprise—maximizing the employment and economic benefits from the clean energy transition, generating and keeping wealth in the community in all parts of the country—not just in resource areas,”
That is a quote from "a group of 16 community renewable energy co-ops from seven provinces ... fighting an uphill battle for recognition, nearly a month after urging the federal government to make it easier for Canadians to invest in locally-owned and -generated electricity." Thus reports The Energy Mix in an excellent article with the troubling title, "Renewable Energy Co-ops See Scant Federal Interest in Locally-Owned Power"
If you're troubled by the fact that this battle is "uphill" instead of easy...
**TAKE ACTION: Submit your comments to the federal government on the Just Transition at this link.
You might want to ask the federal govt, "How can we expect a transition to a fossil fuel free economy to be fair unless we make our electoral system fair by making every vote count equally (with proportional representation)?"
RESOURCES:
The Energy Mix article (Jan 28, 2022), "New Reports Stress Job Creation, ‘Democratic Imperative’ in Just Transition Off Fossil Fuels" refers to these two reports:
1. Pembina Institute report (Jan 27, 2022): "Supporting Workers and Communities in a Coal Phase-out: Lessons learned from just transition efforts in Canada"
2. International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) report: concludes [pdf] in a 53-page report that summarizes best practices from a dozen jurisdictions around the world.
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