SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth

Where the Government of Canada is going

Mandate letters released in December 2021 outline the Government of Canada's direction and policy priorities. Selected commitments related to Sustainable Development Goal 8 are listed below.

• To support the future and livelihood of workers and their communities in the transition to a net-zero economy:
  • Move forward with legislation and comprehensive action to achieve a Just Transition. This work will be guided by consultations with workers, unions, Indigenous peoples, employers, communities, and provinces and territories (Minister of Natural Resources; Minister of Labour; supported by the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion);
  • Launch a Clean Jobs Training Centre to help workers across sectors upgrade or gain new skills so as to be on the leading edge of the zero carbon industry (Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion);
  • Redesign and implement the Canada Training Benefit (Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion);
  • Address gaps in training and upskilling to ensure that all Canadian workers can take advantage of sustainable battery industry opportunities (Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion);
  • Continue to deliver on investments to train workers and create opportunities for green jobs (Minister of Natural Resources); and
  • Increase inclusion in the clean energy workforce by creating more opportunities for women, LGBTQ2 and other under-represented people in the energy sector (Minister of Natural Resources).
• To ensure that Canada is a world leader in clean technology:
  • Build on existing advisory services to guide emerging clean technology firms from formation to export (Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry);
  • Help to drive the development of Canadian clean technology companies and small and medium-sized enterprises working in the area of decarbonization (Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry; supported by the Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development);
  • Support procurement of Canadian clean technology (Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry; Minister of Public Services and Procurement); and
  • Partner with post-secondary institutions and Indigenous organizations to accelerate the creation and growth of Indigenous clean technology businesses (Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry).

Just Transition

At COP26, Canada was a signatory to the Declaration Supporting the Conditions for a Just Transition Internationally - Green growth, decent work, and economic prosperity in the transition to net zero. That includes the following commitment:

“Support and promote social dialogue and stakeholder engagement: We recognise that the development of effective, nationally coherent, locally driven and delivered just transition plans within countries are dependent on effective and inclusive social dialogue. We intend to support and promote social dialogue between governments and the representative organisations of workers and employers, including those in secondary industries that are dependent on carbon-intensive industries as well as other stakeholders, in accordance with inter alia the relevant fundamental rights at work. We also recognise that other key stakeholders need to be engaged to ensure no one is left behind. This support may include strengthening social dialogue through capacity building of the participants.”

Also, in support of Just Transition, in 2018 the government established the Task Force on Just Transition for Canadian Coal Power Workers and Communities. Its mandate was to engage relevant stakeholder groups including labour, provinces and municipal governments, report what was heard and provide recommendations on how the government can support coal power workers and communities. Drawing from meetings and site visits with affected communities, organized labour, industry, and other stakeholders, the task force released its final report in March 2019.

In response, the government committed $185 million to support affected communities, including $35 million for the Canada Coal Transition Initiative focused on skills development and economic diversification, as well as $150 million for a dedicated infrastructure fund.

As of December 2021, about $52 million had been invested in 53 projects across New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan and Alberta.

In July 2021, Canada also launched public consultations to develop just transition legislation that could inform government decision making on climate action and establish an advisory body to advise the government on regional and sectoral strategies. Natural Resources Canada is consulting with a broad range of stakeholders including workers and labour organizations, industry, academia, non-governmental organizations, youth, and experts in skills, training, and diversity and inclusion. These virtual consultations are in addition to meetings with provinces, territories and Indigenous organizations.

Strengthening Canada's climate tech

“Climate tech,” a subset of clean technology, includes a broad range of innovative technology-based solutions to decarbonize the economy and improve society's adaptation and resilience to climate change. This includes transitioning the energy supply to renewable sources; moving toward zero-emission transportation; reducing the impact of buildings and infrastructure; cultivating sustainable agriculture, forestry and land use; and decarbonizing industrial processes. The Government of Canada is committed to working with the private sector, provinces and territories to position Canada as a global leader in climate tech innovation through funding for climate tech start-ups, strengthening regulatory action, increasing clean tech deployment, and transforming public procurement to achieve positive social and environmental outcomes.

Green jobs in Indigenous and northern communities

The percentage of jobs attributed to the environmental and clean technology products sector in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories (0.5% and 1% respectively) falls below the Canada-wide average of 2%. As the Government of Canada continues to support research and development into clean technologies and nature based solutions, it will be important to ensure the benefits reach across Canada.

The Government of Canada is helping Indigenous and northern communities access green job opportunities through the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training (ISET) Program and the Skills and Partnership Fund (SPF). The ISET Program is a distinctions-based program designed to help Indigenous people improve their skills and find employment. It provides funding to Indigenous service delivery organizations to build and improve their capacity and deliver culturally-appropriate job training services to First Nations, Inuit, Métis and urban/non affiliated Indigenous people in their communities. The SPF is a project-based program that supports government priorities through strategic partnerships with Indigenous groups and industry employers. It provides Indigenous peoples with demand-driven skills training for economic opportunities, including in the environmental sector, at the local, regional and national levels.

In addition, the Strategic Partnerships Initiative provides a way for federal partners to coordinate their efforts, reduce administrative burden and pool resources in support of Indigenous communities. It fills gaps in other funding programs that might create a barrier to Indigenous involvement in economic opportunities. As an example, an investment in the Rat River Development Corporation will support a feasibility study to look at adding a biomass boiler to the community's existing heating system.