Iron & Earth is a not-for-profit organization with roots in the fossil fuel industry and we support the goals of this new legislation as it is in alignment with what we have been doing since we were founded in 2016.

We also see it as an acknowledgement that workers, Indigenous Peoples, and other members of society have an important stake in the outcome of the move to a low-carbon economy. All we need to do is look at layoff announcements this month from Suncor and TC Energy to understand that workers need alternatives. Our own polling says that workers want climate solutions that create net-zero jobs. Perhaps more importantly the global shift in demand will take place with or without us. The Act neither causes or forces the change. It is already well underway. 

The Act also emphasizes the importance of engaging workers and their communities and "recognizing local and regional needs". Iron & Earth has connections in underserved, remote, and Indigenous communities across the country and will work with those communities to provide an informed voice to the Sustainable Jobs Partnership Council the Government of Canada has committed to as part of its plan. Unions in Canada have been calling for, and support the role of this new Council which is supposed to play a key role in shaping policies and decisions. The Act is about workers. 

Luisa Da Silva is the Executive Director here at Iron & Earth. In this episode of our Renewable Conversations, host Don Hill talks with Luisa about the new legislation and its alignment with Iron & Earth's core mission and what we are doing now in areas like the Dehcho Region in the Northwest Territories. 

If you want more information on the Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act here are some links that might help:

• Natural Resources Canada media release.
• Backgrounder to the Act. 
• The Bill as posted on the House of Commons website.