Without a jobs plan Canada will continue to fail on climate crisis – NDP

OTTAWA – New Democrats are challenging the Trudeau government for allowing Canada to fall to the back of the pack in the G7 when it comes to addressing the climate crisis. Last month Trudeau said a number of nice things at COP26, but he has so far failed on all the promises he has made on the climate file. This is because he hasn’t laid out a credible jobs and investment plan that will allow Canada to benefit from the opportunities of a clean energy economy.

“The Liberal government is failing the planet and Canadian workers. Canada should be a world leader in the climate fight instead the Trudeau government continues to fall behind other nations,” said NDP Natural Resources Critic Charlie Angus (Timmins—James Bay). “This is because the Liberals haven’t grasped the simple equation that the only way to solve the climate crisis is with a clear job plan that shifts investments into a clean energy future. We have a narrow window for action. And that window is closing.”

A recent report by Clean Energy Canada predicts that 200,000 jobs could be created in clean tech, but this would require a serious ramp up in action on the file. Over the last number of years major investment firms have announced their intention to pull out of the Canadian energy sector because of a lack of commitment to addressing the climate crisis.

“Justin Trudeau is missing a huge opportunity by not reaching out to energy workers to be part of the solution to fighting the climate crisis. By refusing to have a plan to invest in alternative energy jobs, he’s failing workers, their families and our communities,” said NDP MP Heather McPherson (Edmonton Strathcona). “Workers need a plan. They can count on us to push the Liberal government to introduce a plan to help workers find good jobs in a new, diversified economy.”

“Canadian workers are worried about their futures, but successive Liberal and Conservative government have left workers without a plan and without a roadmap to figure it out,” said NDP MP Blake Desjarlais (Edmonton Griesbach). “This is wrong. We have the skilled workers needed for a renewable energy future. We will fight for workers and our communities to make sure nobody is left behind.”