Feds announce new money for sustainable jobs training as legislation remains in limbo

The Liberal government announced Friday it's earmarking more money for training workers for new green jobs as its Sustainable Jobs Act remains mired in Parliament.

During a virtual news conference on Friday, Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault issued a call for applications for funding under the Sustainable Jobs Training Fund.

The new money — $99 million over four years — is meant to support training projects to allow workers to upgrade or gain new skills as part of the government's plan to reduce carbon emissions.

"Our workers need to be ready. They need to be ready for jobs in green home construction, in retrofitting old buildings to be less emitting and to make sure we're maintaining and repairing electric vehicles," Boissonnault said.

In order for projects to qualify for funding, they must focus on at least one of three areas: low-carbon energy and carbon management, green building and retrofits, and electric vehicle maintenance and charging infrastructure.

Organizations will have until May 15 to apply for funding. A second call for proposals will be launched May 31 under the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy, a program that supports skilled trades workers and employers.

While the funding announcement is meant to prepare the workforce for a greener economy, the Sustainable Jobs Act — a bill to support the creation of sustainable jobs and economic growth in a net-zero economy — remains stuck in Parliament.

On Friday, Boissonnault described the bill and the Sustainable Jobs Training Fund as "companion pieces of a broader suite of initiatives on the overall sustainable jobs program." He said the bill's timeline is in Parliament's hands.

"I know what the timeline is for this fund. It's to get proposals in very shortly, very quickly, so that we can view them, so that we can get that money out the door," he said.

The legislation, originally tabled by Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, implements some of the measures the federal government outlined in the interim sustainable jobs plan it released last year.

The bill would create a Sustainable Jobs Partnership Council to advise the government on clean energy jobs and establish a Sustainable Jobs Secretariat, which would oversee the government's work on building a clean energy sector.

It also would require the federal government to create a plan for sustainable jobs every five years.

On Feb. 26, 12 climate and labour organizations sent a letter to the government demanding that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Wilkinson and all parties' leaders expedite the passage of the bill.

Aliénor Rougeot, climate and energy program manager at Environmental Defence, said the government must fulfil its promise.

"The impacts of the energy transition are already being felt across the country. Waiting any longer could be too late for some workers and their families," she said in a media statement.

The bill has seen its fair share of controversy, with the federal Conservatives and the Alberta government pushing back against the Liberals for favouring renewable energy over oil and gas.

The bill passed second reading last October.

After moving before the natural resources committee, the Tories filibustered committee hearings. Liberals eventually moved a motion that ended the study of the bill.

More than 200 additional amendments were proposed by Conservatives when the bill was put on notice to return to the House of Commons.

Rougeot said the government must act now.

"Members of Parliament must put politics aside and pass this important legislation."