Shortly before the election was called, the Federal Government launched an engagement process asking Canadians for their feedback on the best approach to a “just transition”. You can find more info at the government’s website here.

This exercise is about how the government can ensure a fair and just “transition” for workers or communities whose livelihoods are lost because of Canada’s domestic climate policies.

The government wants to hear your views on:

“People-centred just transition principles that put workers and communities at the centre of the government’s policy and decision-making processes on climate change action.
A Just Transition Advisory Body to provide the government with advice on regional and sectoral just transition strategies that support workers and communities.
Other aspects related to just transition – what’s working, what isn’t, and how do we move forward in advancing equity, diversity and inclusion as we move toward a low-carbon economy?”

We think they need to hear your views (we know opponents of our industry are fired up to flood the process) so we’ve created a one-stop shop for you to send a submission to the government’s engagement portal. You can access it here:

Send a submission now!

If you want to make your own submission in your own words – which is more powerful and encouraged – you can do so via email, here is the government address: just-transition-equitable@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

We included some helpful facts and stats below the email if you choose to go it alone.

Thank you so much for sending a submission and standing up for the over 500,000 Canadians who work in our industry.

Our Recommendations (feel free to choose as many as you would like for your own letter)

In terms of its “Just Transition” Policy, the Federal Government should:

Recognize the important role that oil and natural gas will continue to play in global energy security and position the Canadian oil and gas industry, its workers and its clean technologies to play a global role as an energy supplier of choice.
Focus on GHG emissions performance outcomes, be technology neutral and allow innovation to be led by experts in respective economic sectors.
Should not lower Canadian standards of living or our capacity for investment in innovation. Canadian oil and gas jobs are some of the highest paying, middle class jobs in the country. It is not acceptable to cause the destruction of those jobs and to replace them with lower paying ones. This will hurt Canada’s middle class.

In terms of the Just Transition Advisory Body, the Federal Government should:

Ensure that individuals at this table have strong economic expertise and an understanding of the innovation cycle, investment attraction and other fundamentals for job creation.
Given the different potential regional impacts of federal policies, ensure that provincial governments play a role in selecting advisory body representatives.
The Advisory Body should report to the Governor-in-Council and to Parliament.

Facts About Canada’s Oil & Natural Gas Industry:

Canada produces 4.5 million barrels of oil and 15.4 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day, the world’s fifth-largest producer of both resources
The industry provides about 522,000 jobs for Canadians across the country, generates $10 billion annually in government revenues through taxes and royalties and $100 billion in GDP annually.
Natural gas and oil are Canada’s number one export commodity, accounting for 19% of the value of all Canadian exports — outpacing agriculture, automobiles and manufacturing.
From 2009 to 2018, the oil sands industry reduced greenhouse gas emissions intensity by 20%.
The oil and natural gas industry is Canada’s largest investor in clean technologies – 75% of the $1.4 billion invested in 2019 was supported by the sector.¹
In 2018, the oil sands industry spent $2.4 billion in procuring goods and services from 275 Indigenous-led companies. The industry is also Canada’s largest employer of Indigenous peoples.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) World Energy Outlook 2020, global demand for both natural gas and oil is set to reach record levels, and these sources of energy will be needed for decades to come. The IEA recognized Canada as a leader in climate action and also projected strong growth in Canadian natural gas and oil production to meet global energy security needs through 2040, an opportunity for Canada’s resources to meet demand in global energy markets.