Good afternoon, Mr. Chair. My name is Denis Bolduc, and I am the general secretary of the Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec, or FTQ, for short.
Joining me is Patrick Rondeau, union adviser for the environment and the just transition. Mr. Rondeau is our expert.
First of all, I would like to thank you for inviting us to speak with parliamentarians about the fair and equitable transformation of Canada's energy sector.
Now I will say a few words about the FTQ.
The FTQ is the largest labour federation in Quebec, with over 600,000 members, in all sectors of activity. That includes the energy sector, where thousands of FTQ members are facing challenges related to climate change. The FTQ has developed significant expertise in just transition matters over the past six years. We understand the importance of addressing the energy situation in Canada, and we commend the government for considering just transition principles to achieve this. However, we believe that the government is moving in the wrong direction by applying the just transition lens only to the energy sector.
We recommend a holistic approach that includes all sectors of activity. In this regard, we deplore the fact that this file no longer appears in the Minister of Environment and Climate Change's mandate letters. We are concerned that the concept of just transition is being reduced to an issue of skills training in the energy sector only. The assigned mandate letters containing just transition hint at this fear.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's most recent report on impacts, adaptation and vulnerability could not be clearer: we need to decarbonize, transform our entire economy and move away from fossil fuels. The report also indicates that we have the means to do this and that it must be done according to the just transition concept. Canada has signed a number of agreements that clearly define what a just transition is, so Canada has all the parameters necessary to quickly adopt a just transition plan and mechanisms.
I would be remiss if I appeared before you today without mentioning the report the commissioner of the environment and sustainable development presented to Parliament this week. The very first finding of the report reads as follows:
Overall, we found that Natural Resources Canada and Employment and Social Development Canada were not prepared to support a just transition to a low‑carbon economy for workers and communities.
In the report, the commissioner goes on to highlight the Government of Canada's commitment to undertake a transition that helps affected workers and communities by offering financial assistance, retraining and, of course, employment opportunities.
We are worried. It is important to mobilize all workplaces and communities. It is only in this way that we can ensure that no one is left behind in the complex process of transforming and decarbonizing our economy. The FTQ has long been advocating the need for adequate funding and mechanisms that demand results. The European Union's just transition fund is a good example.
In concrete terms, the Government of Canada must decide on real mechanisms, such as the obligation to set up joint committees on just transition in the workplace. Just transition is about fairness, so a whole range of accompanying measures must be adopted to address job losses. The government must ensure that the new jobs created are of high quality and that everyone has access to them. We also believe that communities have a voice. We therefore recommend that the government follow up on the proposal of the federal task force on just transition for Canadian coal power workers and communities, and establish just transition centres.
The government must take strong leadership on this issue. It is in charge. We welcome the consultations undertaken since last summer and the inclusion of the just transition concept in the 2030 greenhouse gas reduction plan. We believe that unions must be at the heart of the process, together with employer organizations. That is why we find the idea of setting up another advisory council outdated. In this regard, we recommend that you study the two commissions on just transition in Scotland and Ireland, as well as the work done by Spain.
The FTQ believes that the government should put in place a structure similar to a Crown corporation. We also encourage the government to appoint a deputy minister for just transition.
Thank you. We would be happy to answer your questions.