Issues: Sustainable Jobs & A Green Economy
Our reccomendations
Canada’s Building Trades Unions is concerned that the transition to a cleaner, greener economy may leave workers in the skilled trades behind. The transition to a clean economy is an opportunity for skilled trades workers to build the clean, green infrastructure of the future – while maintaining strong wages and benefits that workers. In a 2022 survey of skilled trades workers across Canada, findings included that 76 per cent of members are concerned that jobs in the renewable/green sector will have lower wages in comparison to jobs in the oil and gas sector.
Canada’s Building Trades Unions will continue to advocate for strong wages, including tying the prevailing wage to clean economy investments as well as transitional supports for skilled trades workers who may be impacted through the transition to a clean economy.
Canada’s Building Trades Unions strongly supports the Sustainable Jobs Act (C-50) and its tripartite model for workforce transition planning and the measures included to ensure no worker is left behind.
our reccomendations
- Accelerate the implementation of the Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credits, and support the effective implementation of other Investment Tax Credits, including their prevailing wage and apprenticeship labour conditions to ensure good green jobs are tied to taxpayer incentives.
- Ensuring skilled trades workers have a worker appointed as a representative on the Sustainable Jobs Partnership Council
- Support the widespread deployment of Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) to reduce emissions while maintaining employment for skilled trades workers in the oil and gas sector.
- Improve data sharing and cooperation between the federal, provincial/territorial, municipal governments and private sector project proponents to facilitate workforce planning and the timing of major projects to coincide where and when employment reductions shift.
