Thank you very much.
My name is Sari Sairanen.
I'm pleased, on behalf of Unifor and our 315,000 members across Canada to have this opportunity to provide our input into the just transition discussions. We also want to recognize the tremendous work of the just transition for Canadian coal power workers and communities task force. Unifor was an active participant in the just transition task force, which travelled from coast to coast to hear the stories of coal-powered communities. We experienced first-hand the passion with which local workers and community members spoke of their plight as well as their vision for a better future.
The concept of just transition came out of Canada's labour movement and has always emphasized the need to protect workers' livelihoods and the environment at the same time. The government should therefore not shy away from the term “worker”. We need a worker-centred just transition. The use of the term “people-centred” waters down the original focus on the needs and challenges faced by workers in fossil fuel-dependent industries undergoing transition.
Instead of reinventing the wheel, the government should adopt the seven principles that guided the work of the just transition task force: respect for workers, unions, communities and families; worker participation at every stage of transition; transitioning to good jobs; sustainable and healthy communities; planning for the future, grounded in today's realities; nationally coherent, regionally driven, locally delivered actions; and immediate yet durable support.
There's no question that there should be an independent body that not only provides advice to the government on just transition issues but also has a mandate to actively participate in the drafting of relevant policies and programs. Providing full transparency of the just transition continuum is fundamental to harness and foster support in society for the ambitious climate policies that are needed to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement.
The independent body should have significant representation from labour unions. Just transition is a worker-centred issue, and workers should be given a fair chance to represent themselves and engage in meaningful dialogue with both the government and employers. Jobs that workers transition to must be decent, well-paid, unionized jobs. The transition cannot become an avenue for employers to engage in contract flipping by another name.
The changes that are displacing workers are happening now. Unifor's members in the oil and gas industry have experienced these impacts first-hand, and the fossil fuel industry is forecast to lose anywhere between 4,000 and 8,000 jobs per year in the near future.
Implementing a just transition will require dedicated funding to provide wage protections, pension bridging, retraining, and relocation assistance for impacted workers. Unifor's “build back better” campaign called for a dedicated just transition fund, to be partially funded through employer contributions. Impacted workers also need a single-point access for services. Regional and local just transition centres must be established as soon as possible, in line with the just transition task force's recommendations.
Beyond a just transition, this is an opportunity for the government to address gaps in employment insurance and how the Canadian labour market adjusts to rapid technological changes. Stronger social and economic protections, combined with effective policies to help shift workers from declining industries into growth sectors, would ensure that all transitions are just transitions.
Thanks very much.