Editor:
Parliament is back in session at the end of January, and nothing is more important than long-promised Just Transition legislation. Whether they end up calling it the Just Transition Act or the Sustainable Jobs Plan, it’s crucial that MPs work together to deliver legislation that actually meets this moment head on.
Acting at the scale and speed that this moment demands means Canada’s Just Transition legislation must do three things:
- align with IPCC climate science, which calls for an end to fossil fuel expansion;
- guarantee a good, green job to anyone who wants one; and
- put people first, not corporate profits, by sending support and resources directly to workers and communities.
The vast majority of Canadians recognize that the energy transition is underway, that it’s a good thing, and that governments must act now to make sure it’s as smooth as possible for those most affected. Let's use our voices in the months ahead to call for the bold Just Transition legislation we need.
Paul Esslinger, New Westminster
