Canada's energy jobs transition bill sparks discord in oil heartland:
Pipelines run at the McKay River Suncor oil sands in-situ operations near Fort McMurray, Alberta, September 17, 2014. REUTERS/Todd Korol
Controversy is brewing in Canada's western oil patch over federal government legislation meant to help the fossil fuel labor force transition to green energy. Union and community leaders are warning that politicization of the Just Transition bill obscures the needs of workers. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is expected to table its long-awaited workforce transition bill this spring, ahead of economic changes expected as they pursue ambitious goals to slash climate-warming emissions. The government of Alberta, Canada's main crude-producing province, says the legislation will dismantle the oil and gas industry that makes up 5% of Canada's GDP. Alberta's Conservative Premier Danielle Smith is using the threat of job losses to attack Trudeau and rally her conservative base, although she has been criticized for misinterpreting how many jobs may be at risk. The Trudeau government is trying to soothe concerns about the bill, first promised in 2019. According to Gil McGowan, President of the Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL), if done right the bill could incentivise technologies like carbon capture and hydrogen.