Thank you very much, Mr. Chair and members of the committee, for this opportunity.
I'd like to begin by recognizing that we're meeting today on the traditional territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe peoples.
I'd also like to thank the commissioner of the environment and sustainable development for his audit of the just transition, and I'm pleased to inform you, Chair, that Natural Resources Canada is working with other departments to execute a plan to fulfill his recommendations. This plan will complement the work that is under way to seize the economic opportunities of Canada's transition to net zero, particularly regarding jobs.
The government's focus is on ensuring opportunities to create more jobs for workers and families in all regions of the country. Much of this work was not included in the audit because of its timing and scope. For example, the audit's time frame included the pandemic outbreak, a time when Natural Resources Canada was focusing on helping resource companies and their workers face the impact of plunging commodity prices.
We're now well into advancing the just transition. For instance, on June 1, the Minister of Natural Resources launched the regional energy and resource tables. This process will identify, prioritize and pursue opportunities for economic growth and sustainable job creation in the energy and resources sectors across Canada.
Through this process, the government will work with provinces and territories, indigenous organizations, as well as industry, labour and experts, to develop growth strategies geared to the strengths of each region. A key part of this work will be to identify the skills and training needs required to ensure that Canada's labour force is poised to participate in the net-zero economy of the future.
In addition, Natural Resources Canada is investing in sustainable energy, mining and forestry initiatives across the country. We are also supporting indigenous peoples, communities and businesses in their participation in Canada's net-zero future.
Meanwhile, regional agencies in Atlantic Canada and the Prairies continue to roll out and deliver the $185 million already committed to communities impacted by the accelerated phase-out of coal-fired electricity. This work is supporting local job creation and economic diversification in Alberta, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. As of April, the government had invested $75 million in 72 projects across these provinces.
I should also mention the recent measures in the 2030 emissions reduction plan and in budget 2022. They include new investments in renewable power, green buildings and neighbourhoods, critical minerals and small modular reactors.
I will turn now to the pending just transition legislation.
Since last July, we have been consulting broadly, drawing on the expertise of the International Labour Organization, to ensure that social dialogue is at the core of the just transition. The legislation will codify how the government puts people first, and that's why we're engaging broadly with workers and their communities, indigenous partners, unions, employers, academics and non-governmental organizations.
We also opened this discussion to anyone who wished to send us a written submission—and some 30,000 people have done so. My department will make public a report summarizing what we heard. To stay on top of the entire just transition process, NRCan is working with other relevant federal entities to monitor, measure and report on programs and to inform parliamentarians and Canadians of the results achieved.
This work is not static. Labour market trends will continue to evolve, and much depends on the pathways that Canada and the rest of the world take to reach net zero. These are decisions taken by everyone, from CEOs to students and workers looking for opportunities in exciting and emerging fields.
For these reasons, the just transition doesn't have a set end date. It requires careful, coordinated and proactive planning to ensure that Canadians have sustainable jobs well into the future.
With that, I thank you for your time, and we welcome your questions.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.