Sustainable Jobs

Canada’s Sustainable Jobs approach

Canada’s sustainable jobs approach reflects the federal government’s commitment to supporting Canadian workers and their communities in the shift to a low-carbon economy and helping to foster the creation of well-paying, high-quality jobs.

To get there, the federal approach is guided by the Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act, which was passed in 2024 and positions the federal government to be more effective in advancing these objectives through the creation of a framework of governance, accountability and engagement, putting the needs of workers and communities at the centre of federal policy and decision-making.

Building the foundation

All these efforts were informed by a comprehensive consultation process with key partners and stakeholders, as well as the broader Canadian public, in 2021 and 2022. This engagement, in turn, led to the release of the Government of Canada’s interim Sustainable Jobs Plan in February 2023. The interim plan lays out 10 key action areas within federal jurisdiction to ensure a worker-centred approach to Canada’s low-carbon future. Among the action areas identified was a commitment to pass the Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act, as well as measures to accelerate Canada’s most promising opportunities in a low-carbon economy and prepare workers with the skills and expertise they need to succeed in a net-zero emissions world.

Canada’s sustainable jobs approach also builds on the federal government’s initial actions to support coal workers and communities as part of the phasing out of unabated coal-fired electricity by 2030.

To learn more about Canada’s sustainable jobs approach, plans and legislation, click these links.