Canada’s unions are welcoming the tabling of new federal legislation that puts the country on track to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050.

However, there is much work to do to get there, said Hassan Yussuff, president of the Canadian Labour Congress.

“This bill provides a solid path towards reaching Canada’s targets. That being said, it will take a significant amount of effort and input from stakeholders, including unions, to ensure the legislation achieves what it must, including ensuring a just transition for the country’s workers,” said Yussuff.

The Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act sets targets for 2030 and beyond. It further establishes an advisory panel of experts to provide input on the roll-out and implementation of the targets.

Canada’s unions recognize that addressing climate change is critical and welcomes legislation to strengthen accountability in meeting necessary milestones. Just transition will be an important driver for meeting those milestones.

“Workers in this country who are working in industries that will need to adapt or phase out will require assurances from the government that they will not be left behind. We’ll be looking for a concrete plan that coincides with these targets to ensure training and supports are available to all affected workers,” added Yussuff.

Canada’s unions are committed to addressing the climate emergency and will continue to advocate for aggressive solutions towards solving what remains the most serious threat to our current and future prosperity and well-being.