Open Letter on the Sustainable Jobs Act
Canadian Youth Support a Strong Sustainable Jobs Act that Includes a Youth Climate Corps, Diverse Sustainable Job Opportunities and Participation in Decision Making, and Materializes Canada’s Climate Promises
Dear Honourable Minister Jonathan Wilkinson and MP Charlie Angus,
Youth across Canada are happy to hear that the Sustainable Jobs Act has been debated and approved in Parliament. This Act, once ratified, would require the Canadian Government to support a just transition for a sustainable economy across the country, both by creating net-zero jobs as well as providing information and income support to access them. Thank you for your team's dedication in advancing this Bill and collaborating with stakeholders to enhance its provisions.
We, the undersigned, are a group of 22 youth and 4 youth organizations across Canada in counting. We express our support for the Sustainable Jobs Act, which we see as a necessary step towards a healthier future. We, however, share concerns that the Sustainable Jobs Act does not currently reflect the urgency of the climate crisis and need for rapid transitions across all sectors of our economy to meet climate targets. With the Act requiring a Sustainable Jobs Plan to be tabled no later than 2041, we fear that this timeline will be too late to support climate action and workforce transitions that are necessary now.
As youth, we support a climate-positive and inclusive job market, particularly for youth entering the workforce and launching their careers. We collectively call on the Government of Canada to support a strong Sustainable Jobs Act that Includes a Youth Climate Corps, diverse participation in decision making, and the materialization of Canada’s climate promises.
1. Fund a National Youth Climate Corps
In the implementation of the Sustainable Jobs Act, we see an opportunity for the Government to integrate youth development and career support into the future of Canada’s economy through the creation of a Youth Climate Corps. By providing any young person with a well-paying two-year job placement in the climate sector, the government could reduce the economic burden that a clean energy transition may have on young Canadians. The Government can build on current initiatives like Natural Resources Canada’s Science and Technology Internship Program, which has created more than 4700 jobs for youth since 2017, and broaden opportunities to create entry-level sustainable jobs for youth across all sectors. A Youth Climate Corps would allow youth to step into sustainable careers as soon as possible, allowing for a sustainable economy to grow and thrive in Canada, with local needs being championed by communities themselves. This campaign, led by the Climate Emergency Unit, is supported by 55% of adult Canadians according to recent polling by Abacus Data, and if implemented, would create jobs that real Canadians want. We encourage the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth of Canada, Honourable Marci Ien, to be involved in the implementation of a Youth Climate Corps within the framework of the Sustainable Jobs Act.
2. Include Diverse Participation in Decision Making
We call on the federal government to engage diverse youth in the decision-making process through the Sustainable Jobs Interim Action Plan, and long term in the implementation of the Sustainable Jobs Act. Youth voices are not a monolith. Creating diverse mechanisms for wider-reaching education and engagement youth strategies is important. Youth organizations and youth councils can play a role in creating this bridge to bring more youth to the conversation.
It is particularly important to include rural youth, disabled youth, Indigenous youth, Black youth, Racialized youth, Newcomer youth, Refugee youth, youth with a low socio-economic status and other marginalized identities in this conversation. Indigenous youth are especially important because of Canada's colonial legacy and responsibilities to reconciliation through the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. Canada's Indigenous youth population is also steadily growing, with Indigenous youth being represented highly in the natural resource and energy sectors, especially in oil and gas, mining, and forestry.
Any public consultations which guide the Government’s implementation of the Sustainable Jobs Act should reflect the diversity of youth in Canada to ensure future generations have a strong, inclusive, and sustainable economy that supports Canada’s ambitious climate goals. The Government can also help integrate diverse youth into a sustainable workforce by creating specific granting schemes which seek to integrate equity criteria and support job training for groups under-represented in the energy sector, such as women, 2SLGBTQ+ youth, and people of colour. We equally emphasize the importance of creating iterative feedback opportunities within granting mechanisms in order to create a safe and inclusive workplace, which also allows for better worker retention.
By engaging diverse youth in the process, we bridge our communities together to collectively work towards keeping our planet from any catastrophic tipping points. The youth of today will become the sustainable economy leaders of tomorrow – we encourage using the Haudenosaunee Seventh Generation value to consider how decisions made now will impact our communities, seven generations into the future.
3. Diversify Sustainable Job Opportunities
The Sustainable Jobs Action Plan should extend its focus beyond renewable energy, clean technology, green buildings, and electric vehicles, recognizing that environmental job opportunities span a multitude of sectors. While these areas are vital, it is essential to acknowledge that advocacy, agriculture, production occupations, and other sectors also play pivotal roles in achieving sustainability goals. Therefore, funding job training programs for sustainable jobs should encompass a broader spectrum of sectors, including grassroots advocacy, environmental education, food justice, cycling, habitat conservation, and the circular economy. A diverse workforce is integral to decarbonizing the economy and achieving comprehensive sustainability. As a result, programs such as the Science and Technology Internship Program (STIP) from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) should prioritize the other fields mentioned above.
4. Materialize Canada’s Climate Promises
We also emphasize the importance of defining “sustainable jobs'' as ones that mitigate and do not continue our dependence on fossil fuels. Moreover, “sustainable jobs” meaningfully and effectively contribute to climate adaptation with transparent reporting. We acknowledge community care and low carbon jobs, and elements such as fair income, job security, social protection, and social dialogue as vital components to “sustainable jobs.”
If Canada has any hope of meeting our net-zero targets outlined in the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act, we must make a rapid transition away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy. This will require workers to be trained in new skills and growing sectors that can support our climate goals. Access to educational material, skills training, and employment resources are all key to fostering a long-term, pan-Canadian transition toward a climate-positive job market. This support would not only contribute to preparing youth for careers in sustainable jobs, but it is also crucial in ensuring that workers across the country keep pace so that no worker is left behind.
We support the commendable efforts by labour unions who have and will continue to be crucial in providing support for current workers to make any necessary transitions, and urge the Government to support these ground-up efforts of workers that already believe in a net-zero, climate-first economy. We recognize that transitioning our current workforce will take time, effort, and resources, so we call on the Government to adequately support workers while decarbonizing industries, support economic diversification, and ensure Canadians are leaders in a global net-zero economy.
Additionally, we know that local solutions will be at the heart of Canada’s green future. We would like to acknowledge and support the incorporation of local strategies through the Regional Energy and Resource Tables by the Government to create jobs that are meeting specific community needs. While we note implementation is demanding, we recognize these efforts as first steps towards a sustainable job market and see an opportunity for youth to have a say over their future within these structures. Youth will be disproportionately harmed by climate change and decision-makers should be considering future generations in these mechanisms.
In conclusion, as youth and youth organizations, we support a strong Sustainable Jobs Act which creates opportunities for diverse youth to help Canada reach its ambitious goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.
Youth Organization Signatories
The organizations above are:
Sustainable Youth Canada / Écosystème Jeunesse Canada
Green Career Centre
Regenesis
Climate Emergency Unit, Youth Climate Corps Campaign
Individual Youth Signatories
Sam Loutet, Québec
Sara Carling, Québec
Shir Gruber, Québec
Katia Forgues, Québec
Lauren Castelino, Ontario
Brianna Malott, British Columbia
Adele Gagnon, Québec
Rain Cakir, Québec
Leila Pozzi, Québec
Mikellena Nettos, Québec
Olivia Budweth, Ontario
Maggie Chang, Ontario
Gregory Roberts, Québec
Lise Fernandez, Québec
Lauren Peng, British Columbia
Ashley Giovannini, British Columbia
Nico Serreqi, Québec
Bushra Asghar, Ontario
Sharleen Sasis, British Columbia
Annabelle Brozek, Nova Scotia
Orla Simard, Alberta
Laura Latendresse, Québec
Get Involved
If you or your organization are interested in signing on to this open letter, please sign your name via this link.