Governments make better economic decisions when we listen to workers. Every major challenge and opportunity we’re facing right now—the energy transition, the housing shortage, climate change—comes down to workers. So workers shouldn’t just have a seat at the table, they should lead it.

Terry Sheehan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labour and Seniors, joined  Minister Seamus O’Regan Jr., and the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, Randy Boissonnault, for the launch of the Union-Led Advisory Table. The Table is chaired by Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress, and includes 15 labour leaders from across Canada with expertise across sectors, including those impacted by ongoing transitions in the economy. It will advise the Government on the most pressing issues facing workers today, including automation and the changing labour market.

The Union-Led Advisory Table will provide recommendations to the Government on how best to support workers affected by economic change, with a focus on supporting skilled, mid-career workers in at-risk sectors and jobs. It will engage with stakeholders and subject matter experts to formulate recommendations informed by a wide range of perspectives that reflect Canada’s workforce and workplaces.

The Advisory Table will complete its work later in 2024 and will share its findings with the ministers soon after.

Quotes 

“There are many challenges and opportunities in front of us. Workers know how to confront those big challenges we’re facing. And we’re putting them at the forefront. This union advisory table will bring together labour leaders from across the country. They will lead this. We need them.

– Terry Sheehan, Member of Parliament for Sault St. Marie and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labour and Seniors

“Workers need a seat at the table where decisions about big things, like the energy transition and automation, are made. Now they have more than a seat at that table. They will lead it. Because they’re the ones who actually do the work and get the job done.”

– The Honourable Seamus O’Regan Jr., Minister of Labour and Seniors

“Workers power the Canadian economy. They are the heart of our nation’s services, health care, manufacturing and resource delivery, and that’s not all. It is vital that workers are leading the way forward to ensure that Canada has the skills and labour to realize the economic opportunities of today and tomorrow. I look forward to working with the ministers and other labour leaders to help chart a course for a prosperous future that works.”

– Bea Bruske, Chair of the Union-Led Advisory Table and President of the Canadian Labour Congress

Quick Facts

• The Union-Led Advisory Table’s work will be guided by the following themes:
  • drivers of change and sectors most at risk;
  • the needs of affected workers; and
  • continuous skills development.
• The table will be chaired by Bea Bruske, president of the Canadian Labour Congress, and will also include:
  • Meg Gingrich, Assistant to the National Director, United Steel Workers (USW)
  • Mariam Abou-Dib, Executive Director, Teamsters Canada
  • Rob Ashton, President, International Longshore & Warehouse Union Canada (ILWU-Canada)
  • Bert Blundon, President, National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE)
  • Patrick Campbell, Canadian Regional Director, International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE)
  • David Chartrand, Canadian General Vice-President, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW)
  • Roxanne Dubois, Director of Strategic Planning, Unifor
  • Mark Hancock, National President, Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)
  • Julien Laflamme, Political Advisor to the executive committee, Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN)
  • Magali Picard, President, Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec (FTQ)
  • Linda Silas, President, Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU)
  • Sharleen Stewart, President, SEIU Healthcare
  • Sean Strickland, Executive Director, Canada's Building Trades Unions (CBTU)
  • Matt Wayland, Canadian Director of Government Relations, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
• The Government of Canada is conducting other collaboration initiatives with subject matter experts on the future of work, including the Economic Strategy Tables and the Regional Energy and Resource Tables.

Associated Links 

Union -Led Advisory Table

Budget 2022