Making Good Green Jobs the Law

The report argues that Canada requires comprehensive federal just transition legislation to provide certainty for workers and communities as the country moves toward a low-carbon economy. It identifies critical gaps in Canada's previous approach to the coal transition, such as a lack of negotiating power for advisory bodies and insufficient monitoring. Drawing on case studies from Spain, New Zealand, the US, South Africa, and the EU, the authors recommend that new legislation entrench International Labour Organization (ILO) principles, mandate a comprehensive just transition strategy, and establish a dedicated implementation agency. Key priorities include the inclusion of Indigenous Peoples as full partners, the use of 'tripartite-plus' social dialogue, and the enforcement of corporate accountability to ensure the polluter-pays principle is upheld.

• Canada's previous approach to the coal transition was hindered by the fact that the Task Force on Just Transition for Canadian Coal Power Workers and Communities served only an advisory role, lacking the legal authority to negotiate the implementation of recommendations or funding.
• The report identifies a lack of collaborative relationships between private companies and transition actors in Canada, noting that companies often refuse to share information about impacted workers, which forces worker decisions to become 'crisis-based'.
• Federal just transition legislation in Canada should be linked to a 1.5°C-aligned pathway and explicitly acknowledge the need to transition away from fossil fuels to provide clear signals to the private sector.
• The authors recommend a 'tripartite-plus' approach to social dialogue, expanding beyond government, employers, and unions to include civil society groups and communities, citing New Zealand's 'seven pou' framework as a positive example.
• Indigenous Peoples must be treated as full partners rather than stakeholders in the transition process, requiring proactive government action and adequate resourcing to ensure respectful inclusion.
• To avoid 'dialogue traps' where government ignores consensus, the report recommends that the proposed federal advisory body be granted actual negotiating power, similar to the German Coal Commission.
• The report suggests establishing a dedicated agency or institution to lead the implementation of just transition, citing Spain's Institute for the Just Transition and Colorado's Office of Just Transition as models.
• Corporate accountability is highlighted as a critical gap; the report recommends legislation that requires adequate notice of plant closures and reforms bankruptcy laws to prioritize workers over creditors.
• International evidence from the European Union shows that dedicated funding mechanisms for advisory support can effectively enable the creation of regional just transition plans.
• The report notes that Canada's federal system creates unique challenges because provinces control labour law and natural resources, meaning the federal government often relies on 'spending power' rather than direct jurisdiction.

APA

Corkal, V., & Beedell, E. (2022). Making Good Green Jobs the Law. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2022-01/green-jobs-advance-canada-just-transition.pdf

Chicago

Corkal, Vanessa, and Estan Beedell. Making Good Green Jobs the Law. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2022. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2022-01/green-jobs-advance-canada-just-transition.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Corkal |first1=Vanessa |last2=Beedell |first2=Estan |title=Making Good Green Jobs the Law |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=January 2022 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2022-01/green-jobs-advance-canada-just-transition.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{corkal2022making, author = {Corkal, Vanessa and Beedell, Estan}, title = {{Making Good Green Jobs the Law}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2022}, month = jan, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2022-01/green-jobs-advance-canada-just-transition.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }