A new research project led by the Institute for Research on Public Policy (IRPP) reveals that 10% of Canadians live in communities that could face workforce disruption in the coming years due to global and domestic efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
With significant changes expected over the next few decades from both Canadian and international efforts, the IRPP is urging federal and provincial governments to better coordinate their actions and tailor their support to help affected communities transition their local economies.
"We need locally driven policies that will help communities respond to disruptions," said Jennifer Ditchburn, president and chief executive of the IRPP.
This recommendation is one of several key takeaways from the IRPP’s Community Transformations Project, which aims to provide Canadian communities with the tools and knowledge needed to navigate the forthcoming changes.
“Susceptible communities may ultimately come out ahead, with a stronger economy and more skilled workforce, but the process of getting from here to there can be painful,” said Rachel Samson, the IRPP’s vice president of research. “There are things governments can do to improve the resilience of communities and make transformations easier.”
The project, which includes an interactive map, identifies communities that are often small, rural, and less economically diversified. Some of these communities, such as those dependent on auto manufacturing, are already in the midst of transformation, while others, like those reliant on natural gas, may have decades before they need to adjust.
Disruption in small communities can extend beyond individual companies and their workers, affecting local suppliers, services, government revenues, and even housing markets.
The IRPP has outlined several recommendations to address these challenges:
Future recommendations will focus on skills and training needs, employment insurance adjustments, support for major employers, and enhanced social safety nets.
By 2026, the project aims to provide a comprehensive body of research, data, and recommendations, according to IRPP.
“Canadian communities will face a host of challenges in the coming decades, while governments will also be grappling with significant fiscal challenges,” Ditchburn said. “We need strategic, collaborative, and ultimately locally driven policies and programs to help our communities seize opportunities and respond to disruptions.”