ENGO Briefing Note The Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act By: Pembina Institute, Environmental Defence, Équiterre, Blue Green Canada, David Suzuki Foundation, Ecojustice, International Institute for Sustainable Development Date: May Purpose TobriefparliamentariansonthecurrentstatusandsignificanceofBill C-50, theCanadianSustainableJobsAct, inadvanceoffurtherlegislativeproceedings.

Summary● Bill C-50 proposes a useful governance and accountability framework for the Government of Canada to support workers and communities as Canada transitions to a net-zero economy.● Important improvements were made to Bill C-50 in the House of Commons, following a series of amendments proposed by ENGOs and labour organizations.● The emphasis now should be on passing the legislation to ensure sustainable jobs dialogue and programs can be implemented without further delay.

BackgroundBill C-50, AnActrespectingaccountability, transparencyandengagementtosupportthecreationofsustainablejobsforworkersandeconomicgrowthinanet-zeroeconomywasintroducedintheHouseofCommonsinJune2023. ItpromisestostandupaPartnershipCouncil andSecretariat,andmandatesthecreationof5-yearSustainableJobsActionPlanstosetthefoundation,coordinationmechanisms, andwholeofgovernmentplanningonthesustainablejobsfile.

TheBill wasdelayedduringitsstudyintheStandingCommitteeonNatural Resources.Prominentenvironmental non-governmental organisations(ENGOs)andlabourleaderspubliclycalledontheGovernmentofCanadatoundertakemeasuresnecessarytomovetheBillthroughtheHouseofCommons. Thegovernmentdidsobymovingamotiontoimposeadeadlineforthestudy. Considerations• Bill C-50setsupaframeworktolinkthefederal government’sclimateeffortswithitsworkforceandeconomicplanning.

Itputsinplacethegovernancestructureneededtoinitiateamorepurposeful, systematic, andfuture-focusedapproachtoadvancingacleanenergytransitioninawaythatdirectlyengageswithlabourandotherkeysocialgroups, inlinewithbestpracticesfromotherjurisdictionsaroundtheworld. • TheestablishmentofthePartnershipCouncil isanimportantwaytoensurethevoicesoflabourandotherexpertsareheardinpolicy-making.

Itwill serveasacritical linkwithCanadians, especiallythoseimpactedbytheongoingenergytransition. • TheBill will formalizetheSustainableJobsSecretariat-akeygovernmentcoordinationinstrumentandpolicydriveronsustainablejobs-withresponsibilitiestoengageandcollaboratewithover15federal governmentdepartments. • TheBill isbuiltonrobustfoundations, thankstoatwelve-meeting-longstudyattheStandingCommitteeonNatural Resourcesthatinvolved64witnessesandresultedinareportand19recommendations. TheGovernmentofCanadaalsoundertookpublicengagement, summarizedinthe10-stepinterimSustainableJobsPlan.

ThisfollowstheAuditorGeneral’sreportandrecommendations. • ENGOsandlabourhavebeenfollowingthedevelopmentofBill C-50andsuccessfullyadvocatedforamendmentsthatalignBill C-50withCanada'slegislatedclimategoals(CanadianNet-ZeroEmissionsAccountabilityAct), improvetransparencyandaccountability, andensurelabour, Indigenousandenvironmental groupsarerepresentedonthePartnershipCouncil. • Labourunionshavemadeclearthatworkersarealreadybeingimpactedbytheenergytransitionandrequireimmediatesupport. ThePartnershipCouncil musthavesufficienttimetoengageworkersandprovideinputintothefirstlegislatedSustainableJobsActionPlanin2025.

ThisrequiresefficientconsiderationandpassageoftheBill, withRoyal AssentbyJune2024. ConclusionENGOssupportpassingBill C-50andadviseagainstunnecessaryprocessdelays. WeexpecttheGovernmentofCanadatopublishandstartimplementinganambitiousandcomprehensive2025SustainableJobsActionPlan, butensuringBill C-50becomeslawisthefirststep.