Critics say Ottawa's sustainable jobs plan offers no new support for energy workers

The Carney government's plan to protect jobs in the energy sector amounts to a list of existing policies that critics say aren't focused enough on those at risk of losing work.

Previously called the 'just transition,' the new federal sustainable jobs action plan offers little in the way of measures tailored for energy workers beyond existing policies.

Natural Resources Canada released the plan in February, quietly fulfilling a Trudeau-era commitment.

"This report in and of itself is not going to help workers," said Bea Bruske, president of the Canadian Labour Congress, the largest labour organization in Canada. 

"The impression that we have at this moment in time is that it's a compendium of previous announcements and current programs."

It lands as Canadians face disruptions on several fronts: U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs, rapid advances in artificial intelligence, federal budget cuts and an acceleration toward greener manufacturing and clean tech, such as electric vehicles.

Those changes come as workers' purchasing power has diminished amid higher housing and food prices.

Under pressure from the NDP, the Liberals passed the Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act in 2024, with the aim of supporting workers in sectors that might be sunsetting. It required the government to table its action plan no later than Dec. 31, 2025. 

Now that the plan has been released, its longtime backers tell CBC News they were looking for more concrete proposals.

A spokesperson for Energy Minister Tim Hodgson said "Canada has an existing comprehensive system of worker supports" which include "income protections, training programs and labour mobility measures."

"The action plan will continue to evolve as the economy and transition to net-zero continue progress, with additional actions introduced over time," said Charlotte Power, the press secretary for the minister.

But NDP interim Leader Don Davies says the plan "falls short."

"Canadian workers need a truly ambitious, sustainable jobs plan. That requires concrete measures such as a jobs guarantee, meaningful upskilling, relocation support where industries are shifting and pensions strong enough to withstand uncertainty," he said. 

"I don't think workers see anything in the report that gives them comfort," said Sen. Hassan Yussuff, a former national labour leader.