Alberta wants guaranteed seats on proposed sustainable jobs partnership council

The federal government should give Alberta the option to appoint members to a new sustainable jobs advisory council, the province's energy and minerals minister says.

Minister Brian Jean, who represents Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche at the heart of the province's oilsands, says the federal government tabled legislation Thursday that will have an outsize effect on the province — and that should warrant more input.

Bill C-50 is enabling legislation that puts bureaucratic structures and requirements in place to help the government stick to a plan to transition more workers into industries with lower greenhouse gas emissions. It's part of a suite of measures to help Canada reach its climate targets and meet international obligations.

Although federal ministers insisted the sustainable jobs bill is squarely in federal jurisdiction, Jean disputes this, because of the effect it could have on employment in Alberta.

"Restricting the capacity for growth in the jobs sector, in the natural resources sector — these are things that are entirely in provincial jurisdiction, not in federal jurisdiction, and they know that," he said in an interview Thursday.

He predicted that leaders of other affected provinces, such as Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador, would share his concerns.

If passed, the bill would require the federal government to devise a sustainable job creation action plan every five years.

It would also have to publicly report on its progress in meeting any targets in those plans.

Watch | Mixed reaction to sustainable jobs plan:

The bill would compel the government to create an independent partnership council of up to 15 members representing labour groups, Indigenous peoples and industries. That council would advise the natural resources minister and federal government on how to transition to a net-zero emissions economy.

Although nothing would require the minister to appoint a council representative from Alberta, the bill says the minister must consider regional representation.

In a statement, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said the council's recommendations must be consistent with Alberta's emissions reduction and energy development plan — or her government won't consider its advice legitimate.

"If it's going to infringe or cross the road into our lane of jurisdiction, we're going to push them back. And that means through whatever means is necessary," Jean said.

The provincial emissions reduction plan, released in April, aspires for the province to be carbon neutral by 2050.