Canada’s Sustainable Jobs Act Marks Progress, But Must Be Strengthened

The IISD supports the draft Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act for enshrining the Sustainable Jobs Secretariat and Partnership Council and incorporating International Labour Organization principles. However, it argues the bill must be strengthened by moving principles from the preamble into the body of the legislation and adding specific mechanisms for Indigenous partnership, regional planning, and worker support programs.

• The draft Sustainable Jobs Act is viewed as a positive step because it legislates the Sustainable Jobs Secretariat and the Partnership Council to coordinate government efforts, and it incorporates principles of social dialogue and high-quality jobs aligned with International Labour Organization guidelines.
• The IISD argues that the legislation must be strengthened by moving key elements currently in the preamble—including Indigenous rights, inclusion, and climate commitments—into the main body of the bill to ensure certainty and accountability.
• The IISD identifies four critical gaps that require amendments: the need for Indigenous Peoples to be equal partners in decision-making, explicit references to the Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act to align job creation with the move away from fossil fuels, the creation of regional just transition planning mechanisms, and the provision of support programs like pension bridging and expanded employment insurance for transitioning workers.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (2023). Canada’s Sustainable Jobs Act Marks Progress, But Must Be Strengthened. https://www.iisd.org/articles/statement/canada-sustainable-jobs-act

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. Canada’s Sustainable Jobs Act Marks Progress, But Must Be Strengthened. 2023. https://www.iisd.org/articles/statement/canada-sustainable-jobs-act.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=Canada’s Sustainable Jobs Act Marks Progress, But Must Be Strengthened |date=15 June 2023 |url=https://www.iisd.org/articles/statement/canada-sustainable-jobs-act |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopment2023canadas, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{Canada’s Sustainable Jobs Act Marks Progress, But Must Be Strengthened}}, publisher = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2023}, month = jun, url = {https://www.iisd.org/articles/statement/canada-sustainable-jobs-act}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }