CLC applauds carbon pricing targets but calls for a just and fair transition for workers

The CLC welcomes the federal government’s announcement of an ambitious initiative to tackle climate change through proposed carbon pricing. As a next step, the CLC calls for a federal strategy to guarantee new opportunities for workers and communities impacted by the transition to a low-carbon economy.

“Today’s carbon pricing announcement is an important and necessary step for our government to take towards meeting our Paris commitments, but we must ensure that Canadian workers are not left behind in the process,” said CLC President Hassan Yussuff. “For Canada to be a true leader in addressing climate change, we must transform our economy in a way that sustains good jobs and strong communities while protecting our environment.”

The government’s proposed price on carbon starts at a minimum of $10 a tonne in 2018 and rises by $10 each year to $50 a tonne in 2022. The new plan will establish a national framework within which provinces can adopt their own approach to achieving the federal floor price.

“Today’s announcement sets significant targets but the details of the plan will be vital,” said Yussuff. “The CLC is encouraged by strong federal leadership on pricing emissions, but is looking for guarantees that will ensure that the burden of adjusting to a green economy falls equitably on Canadians and is not borne disproportionately by low income households.”

Yussuff says that this program puts a necessary price on pollution in Canada, by ensuring that polluters pay their fair share towards reducing carbon emissions.

The CLC is calling on governments at every level to support the families and communities affected by carbon pricing and to invest in new jobs in renewable energy, public transportation and home and building retrofits.