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Canada introduces the Sustainable Jobs Act to support workers and communities in the transition to a net-zero economy. Explore how the legislation strengthens accountability, transparency and workforce readiness, with insights from Karma Global’s global compliance perspective.
Original publication: 2024-07-30 12:06:45
Canada’s Sustainable Jobs Legislation: A milestone for workers and communities on the path to net zero
As the global race to net zero accelerates, governments are building frameworks that combine economic growth, worker readiness and accountable transition planning. Canada’s Sustainable Jobs legislation is positioned as a key step in placing workers and communities at the centre of a low-carbon future.
Karma Global: enabling compliance, risk control and legal readiness
KARMA GLOBAL, besides its foray into specialised areas like staffing, onboarding, payroll, curbing regulatory risk, auditing and abiding by all labour law related compliance, has joined hands with a top Indian legal firm in order to further strengthen its enduring relationships with its over five hundred clients with cost-effective and time-bound legal solutions.
Transition-focused legislation has direct implications for workforce strategy, organisational planning, stakeholder engagement and policy governance. Being informed early helps businesses anticipate compliance shifts and align long-term workforce planning with evolving regulatory frameworks.
Government of Canada presents the Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act
Canada is positioned to take advantage of the economic opportunities presented by the global race to net zero. The Government of Canada has worked on strategies, investments and improved regulations to help Canada become a clean energy and technology supplier of choice in a net-zero world, with partnership across provinces and territories, including via the Regional Energy and Resource Tables.
Policy build-up leading to the legislation
The February 2023 release of the Interim Sustainable Jobs Plan outlined the work required to seize economic opportunities enabled by a move to a low-carbon future, while supporting workers and communities through the transition.
Recently, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, advanced one of the ten key action areas in the plan by introducing a bill entitled “An Act respecting accountability, transparency and engagement to support the creation of sustainable jobs for workers and economic growth in a net-zero economy” (Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act).
What the Act includes and what it aims to achieve
The Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act includes several measures that were outlined earlier in the Interim Sustainable Jobs Plan. The legislation is positioned to put workers and communities at the centre of policy and decision-making by establishing a federal framework for accountability, a governance structure and engagement mechanisms.
Establishes a federal framework to hold future governments to account with respect to supporting workers in a strong Canadian economy for generations to come.
Creates structures and guidelines intended to support consistent oversight and transparency of the sustainable jobs strategy and its implementation.
Establishes engagement mechanisms guided by the principles of equity, fairness and inclusion, to ensure worker and community perspectives inform policy design.
Similar to the Net-Zero Accountability Act, the Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act aims to put in place structures, guidelines and accountability mechanisms to help Canadians judge the performance of this and future governments in this space.