Policy & Positions Manual

Provincial Issues - Jobs, Tourism And Innnovation

Skills training for a new economy (2009)

Introduction
Many British Columbians are being laid off in various sectors across our province.  To recover from this crisis the 2009 BC Budget has made provisions for additional Employment Insurance (E.I.) durations, training possibilities and allotted money for infrastructure and community projects to create more jobs.  Global job loss has brought communities, countries and Heads of States together to find solutions for a quick recovery of our economies. Most meetings, conventions and summits have concluded with financial solutions that include strategies of low carbon growth and green jobs.

Provincial and Federal job creation plans
We just have to look around us to find evidence of the effects of job loss due resulting from the economic downturn.  E.I. claims are up and some companies are suggesting reduced salaries so people can weather these times without losing their jobs.  The provincial E.I. benefits have been extended and there are training programs available for recipients. 

Provincial, Federal and global budgets are including funding for infrastructure and community projects attainable to many sectors so people have opportunities to work when companies are downsizing and workers are laid off.   Budgets are also including incentives and grants for energy reducing activities and all governments are recognizing that the new economy is focused on low carbon growth creating new green jobs and environmentally sustainable economies.

On March 13, 2009, in London Ontario, Prime Minister Stephen Harper spoke of budget initiatives that support and assist Canadian workers. Prime Minister Harper said that, “Canadian workers who have been affected by the current global economic crisis will receive support and assistance through initiatives contained in Canada’s Economic Action Plan. Canadians who are looking to open up new job opportunities by upgrading their skills deserve every opportunity to succeed.” At the same meeting, Human Resources and Skills Development Minister, Diane Finley, in highlighting the budget measures said, “Investing in training is one of the best measures any government can take, not only to protect our country and its workers today, but also to ensure that Canadians can take full advantage of the jobs of tomorrow.”

In looking at highlights pertaining to BC’s 2009 Budget incentives that support and assist BC’s workers and BC’s Economic Plan,it is important to acknowledge that our 2009 provincial budget works together with Canada’s 2009 Budget and Canada’s Economic Action Plan.

Canada’s Economic Action Plan comprises five main elements:

  • Improving Access to Financing and Strengthening Canada’s Financial System. Providing up to $200 billion through the Extraordinary Financing Framework to improve access to financing for consumers and allow businesses to obtain the financing they need to invest, grow and create jobs;
  • Action to Help Canadians and Stimulate Spending.  Providing $8.3 billion for the Canadian Skills and Transition Strategy. This will help workers directly affected by the economic downturn with enhancements to Employment Insurance and funding for skills and training. As well, the budget proposes $20 billion in personal income tax relief over 2008–09 and the next five fiscal years that will benefit all Canadian taxpayers, including doubling the tax relief provided by the Working Income Tax Benefit to make work more financially attractive for low-income Canadians;
  • Action to Stimulate Housing Construction. Providing $7.8 billion to build quality housing, to stimulate construction and enhance energy efficiency. Measures include: a renovation tax credit providing up to $1,350 to an estimated 4.6 million Canadian families; funding for energy retrofits; investments in social housing to support low-income Canadians, including seniors, persons with disabilities and Aboriginal Canadians; as well as low-cost loans to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure;
  • Immediate Action to Build Infrastructure. Accelerating and expanding recent historic investments in infrastructure with almost $12 billion in new infrastructure funding over two years for the construction and repair of roads, bridges, small craft harbours, broadband internet access, electronic health records, laboratories and border crossings across the country. This will support economic growth and employment this year and next, while also bolstering Canada’s long-run productive capacity;
    • BC’s Budget 2009, promises to invest almost $14 billion in infrastructure projects in every region of the province. $2 billion is cost shared with the Federal Government for new projects to be accelerated over the next three years. Another $10.6 billion is for approved projects within the Province’s capital plan for the next three years. And $1.4 billion in local infrastructure projects are being built in partnership with local governments and the Federal Government. These new and accelerated investments will generate as many as 88,000 jobs across British Columbia; and
  • Action to Support Businesses and Communities. Addressing short-term economic challenges facing sectors, regions and communities as a result of the global economic crisis and helping sectors position themselves for long-term competitiveness;
    • The BC Budget 2009, invests an $294 million in operating funding over four years to support economic activity in communities throughout the province during the economic downturn, providing confidence and stability that is critical for a strong future.

At the both the 2009 BC Economic Summit in Vancouver, Feb. 3-4, and the Northern Economic Summit in Prince George, January 2009, it was stated that clean technology could drive the economy for the next 30 years.  Speakers from every sector spoke of the inevitability of business, society and the future economy being determined by sound environmental commitments.  Details of the federal and provincial budgets contain funds for developing new green technology, environmental clean-up efforts, construction grants and tax incentives, developing carbon capture projects and creating green infrastructure. There was no mention of funding to assist and support the workers who will be implementing this new economy.

Global job creation plans:
The Leaders of the Group of Twenty’s Global Plan for Recovery and Reform April 2nd, 2009, urged that every country must join together to resolve today’s challenges to the world economy.  Some of the points in their Global Plan speak of job creation and continuing expansionary policies as long as needed to help the economy rebound. British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown said as part of the economic recovery plan “the G20 leaders were committed to continue to promote low carbon growth and to creating green jobs.”

Under "Restoring growth and jobs" in the Global Plan for Recovery and Reform, point 6 states, “We are undertaking an unprecedented and concerted fiscal expansion, which will save or create millions of jobs which would otherwise have been destroyed, and that will, by the end of next year, amount to $5 trillion, raise output by 4 per cent, and accelerate the transition to a green economy.  We are committed to deliver the scale of sustained fiscal effort necessary to restore growth.”

Under "Ensuring a fair and sustainable recovery for all" in the Global Plan, point 27 states, “We agreed to make the best possible use of investment funded by fiscal stimulus programmes towards the goal of building a resilient, sustainable, and green recovery.  We will make the transition towards clean, innovative, resource efficient, low carbon technologies and infrastructure.  We encourage the MDBs to contribute fully to the achievement of this objective.  We will identify and work together on further measures to build sustainable economies.”

Point 28 states, “We reaffirm our commitment to address the threat of irreversible climate change, based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, and to reach agreement at the UN Climate Change conference in Copenhagen in December 2009.”

Conclusion:
If our leaders are promoting a future economy driven by low carbon growth and new green jobs, commitments could be made under many of the budgetary plans to include training, assistance and support for British Columbians to gain skills in all aspects of green technology.  Future industries, developments and infrastructure projects could also be assisted and supported to include as many green plans and technologies as possible.  Since British Columbians are oftentimes compelled to retrain in order to retain or re-enter the job force in our province, BC has great opportunities to identify and plan for future low carbon industrial practices and the green jobs needed to support growth for those industries.  Training programs may need to change quickly to keep up with the new green economy and by addressing this opportunity our provincial government could lead the way for quick economic recovery.

THE CHAMBER RECOMMENDS

That the Provincial Government:

  1. work with the Federal Government to identify future green technologies and industries;
  1. work with the Federal Government to identify the workforce needed to support future green technologies and industries;
  1. work with the Federal Government to develop training programs to create a future workforce in green technologies and industries; and
  1. provide assistance and support for workers to train for jobs in future green technologies and industries.