The event is co-hosted by Unifor Sam Gindin Chair in Social Justice and Democracy, Ryerson University.
Located on the 7th floor, Cara Commons
The Good Jobs for All Coalition (GJFA) is an alliance of community, labour, social justice, youth and environmental organizations in the Toronto region. It was formed in 2008 to start a focused dialogue on how to improve living and working conditions in Canada’s largest urban centre.
The Coalition’s goal is to develop strategies that affirm the values of a truly just society – healthy communities, a sustainable economy, strong public services, equity, and decent work for all.
On February 29th the Good Jobs for All Coalition will be hosting a City of Toronto Forum on Green Jobs. Participants will include the Canadian Federation of Students (Ontario), Professor Cheryl Teelucksingh and Laura Zeglen, co-authors of the 2016 report entitled “Building Toronto: Achieving Social Inclusion in Toronto’s Emerging Green Economy” for Metcalfe’s Green Prosperity series, and the Toronto-York Labour Council. The Toronto-York Labour Council will speak to its January 2016 “Labour and Climate Change Statement”, prepared following the Paris COP21, which calls on the City of Toronto to transform its approach to energy and the environment.
This Forum on Green Jobs will provides a space to discuss what we refer to as a ‘just transition’. As stated by the Toronto York Labour Council “JUST TRANSITION refers to policies that support workers in carbon-intensive industries when their jobs are being changed or eliminated. It includes voice in decision-making, retraining, income bridging and unemployment benefits, and community investment for good green jobs.”
What will it take to realise COP21 goals in greater Toronto, across Ontario and Canada? Various initiatives could help reduce our carbon footprint as Canada’s largest urban centre. The Toronto York Region Labour Council recommends:
A massive expansion of the Better Buildings Program to perform energy audits on all large buildings, to secure financing for retrofits and connect qualified contractors with clients. The same concept can apply to homes using the City’s recently adopted residential program. Tower renewal could clad over a thousand apartment buildings, and with provincial and federal support we could tackle the $2.6B backlog of repairs on TCHC buildings.
Altering and expediting the implementation of the Ontario Building Code to require stronger environmental standards than those scheduled for 2017. Developing and implementing carbon neutral design, architecture and development in all new and infill communities.
These ideas have been around for a long time, but there is new urgency in making them part of each decision taken in the city. These strategic investments can be funded via the revenue from carbon pricing that Ontario will implementing in the coming months.
For the Good Jobs for All Coalition and labour movement an essential ingredient for success in a just transition is equity – ensuring that newcomer and racialized communities share in the career opportunities in a green economy. We have already modelled that approach with Community Benefits for the Eglinton Crosstown project, but much more can and needs to be done.
The Good Jobs for All Coalition
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/leap-into-a-green-economy-with-good-jobs-for-all-tickets-21578149827
https://leapmanifesto.org/event/leap-into-a-green-economy-with-good-jobs-for-all/?instance_id=104