Day of Action: March 12, 2022

Imagining a Just Transition

Thousands of people in 50 communities from Victoria to Winnipeg to Lunenburg used art and theatre to bring our collective vision for a Just Transition to life. Now, let’s make sure that the Federal Ministers responsible for delivering a Just Transition get the message — and get to work.

Demand a Just Transition

Y Hanson Photography

The Story

On March 12th 2022, 50 communities across the country brought forward our collective vision for a Just Transition to a green economy. From the Maritimes to the prairies to the West Coast, and all the points in between, thousands of people used theatre and art to send a big message. Together, we staged ribbon cutting ceremonies for the “Ministry of Just Transition,” held press conferences from the future, and organized imaginative green jobs fairs to show politicians, the media, and our own communities, what’s possible if our political leaders invested in a bold, ambitious Just Transition plan.

Our pressure is working. The day before our powerful actions, Trudeau’s Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson announced the next round of consultations on a Just Transition and job creation. This news demonstrated that we are successfully pushing the government to make progress toward a Just Transition. The bad news is that they still don’t have legislation or a clear plan to pass it. Let’s make sure the Trudeau government knows that we won’t back down until there is urgent and immediate action for a Just Transition.

2025 Press Conference by the Future Ministry of Just Transition, Vancouver, BC

Ribbon cutting for a Ministry of Just Transition outside MP Terry Beech, Burnaby, BC

Ribbon cutting ceremony for a Ministry of Just Transition in Orleans, ON

2025 Press Conference by the Future Ministry of Just Transition, Vancouver, BC

Calgary, AB

Lunenberg, NS Green Jobs Centre opening

Penticton, BC

Brockville Railway Tunnel, Ontario

Kitchner-Waterloo, Ontario

Orleans, ON

Perth, ON

St John's, NFL

MP Erskine-Smith's office, Toronto, ON

North Vancouver, BC outside Minister Jonathan Wilkinson's office

Parry Sound, ON

Hamilton, ON

Davenport - Toronto, ON

Sault St Marie, ON

Portage-Lisgar, Manitoba

Montreal, Quebec

Grand Praire, Alberta

Media and Press Highlights

Feds announce next step as Canadians prepare to rally for a just transition
–National Observer

Unfulfilled climate change promise from PM Trudeau prompts upcoming Penticton protest
– Summerland Review

Edmontonians rally to demand Parliament pass Just Transition Act on climate change
–Edmonton Journal

Winnipeggers rally to call for just transition from reliance on fossil fuels
–CBC News

Rallies push for more action on climate change, just transition to green energy
–CTV News

Advocating for ‘just’ clean energy transition at MP offices in Cumberland, Colchester
– Saltwire

B.C. climate activists pitch vision for ‘Just Transition’ from fossil fuels
–Castlegar News

Rallies push for more action on climate change, just transition to green energy
–CTV News

B.C. climate activists pitch vision for ‘Just Transition’ from fossil fuels
–Castlegar News

Day of Action rally for transition to Green Economy set for March 12 in East Lynn Park
–Beach Metro Community News

National Day of Action demonstrators petition government to address climate emergency
–Pembina Valley Online

Sign the Petition

Tell the Federal Ministers responsible for a Just Transition Act to deliver it now

It’s been years since Trudeau promised a Just Transition Act, but we’ve seen no serious progress. Our climate and communities can’t wait any longer. It's time for politicians to take notice and act. We need a bold and ambitious action plan that's in line with the urgency of the climate crisis, creates millions of good, green jobs, and supports our communities as we rapidly shift to a green economy.

Sign the petition to demand a Just Transition Act before the end of the year.

View the full petition text.

Dear Ministers Jonathan Wilkinson, Seamus O'Regan and Carla Qualtrough, deliver a Just Transition Act before the end of 2022!

It’s been years since your government promised a Just Transition Act to support workers and communities with the shift to a green economy. But, so far, we’ve barely seen any progress.

As the Federal Ministers responsible for a Just Transition Act, you have the power to advance this bold vision to get Canada off of fossil fuels. And, you have the ability to make sure Parliament gets this critical legislation right.

We need a bold and ambitious plan to act that's in line with the urgency of the climate crisis, creates millions of good, green jobs, and supports our communities as we rapidly shift to a green economy.

We’re counting on you to pass the Just Transition Act NOW.

The latest IPCC report couldn't have been clearer: the world has a small window to shift off fossil fuels as fast as possible to avoid catastrophe.

That is why we are calling on your government to listen to the people and the science, and legislate a Just Transition Act before the year is out. We can’t afford to wait any longer.

Dear Ministers Jonathan Wilkinson, Seamus O'Regan and Carla Qualtrough, deliver a Just Transition Act before the end of 2022!

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Map of events from March 12th

If you missed the day of action and want to plan something in your community, check out our toolkit for action visuals, and much more!

Mass call for the March 12th Day of Action for a Just Transition

On March 1st, over 500 people joined us for a Conversation with Climate Leaders Anjali Appadurai, Avi Lewis and Juan Vargas to discuss the implications of the latest IPCC report on the climate emergency, and how we organize to win critical climate action to transition off fossil fuels fast. We shared our plans for a Day of Action for a Just Transition to win the kind of bold, transformative action the climate and our communities need in this moment. If you missed it, check out the recording below:

Frequently Asked Questions

What did these actions look like?

From Vancouver Island to Nova Scotia, people across the country visited their MP offices and visually demonstrated, through theatre and art, how our communities will thrive under a Just Transition Act. Communities participated in ribbon cutting ceremonies and held press conferences from the future “Ministry of Just Transition” to show this Parliament the kinds of programs we need to transition off fossil fuels in a way that leaves no one behind.

When and where did these actions take place?

March 12th, across the country. You can find a map of past actions here.

Why now?

Because it’s been years since Justin Trudeau first promised a Just Transition Act and we’ve barely seen any action. For Canada to tackle the climate emergency, we need a plan to phase out fossil fuels, and that requires a big, bold Just Transition that works for everyone.

This action built off the momentum of the November 22 rally for a just transition outside the Prime Minister’s office, where we delivered 10,000 petition signatures from people across the country who are done waiting for the Just Transition Act that Justin Trudeau promised in 2019.

Who organized this?

Grassroots groups and community members across the country, with support from 350.org and the Council of Canadians.

Time for big ideas and bold action

Getting the Just Transition Act right could mean the difference between putting Canada on the right track when it comes to meeting the climate crisis, or continuing down the dangerous path we’re currently on. Together, we have the power to make sure our government meets this moment and leaves no one behind.

Put people first, not corporate profits

A just transition can’t be another excuse to hand billions of dollars over to Big Oil and other corporations. These companies should pay to clean up their own messes. The resources we put towards a just transition should go directly to the people and communities who need them.

We know that both climate change and the energy transition will disproportionately impact Indigenous, rural and northern communities. Those most impacted are going to need the most support, and it’s up to your government to make sure that happens.

Thanks to actions taken by people like you, we stopped Big Oil from squeezing billions from the government. But, they’re not giving up. That’s why we will continue to use all the tools available to us to oppose corporate bailouts and lift up the needs of communities who are most impacted by the COVID-19 crisis — including Indigenous peoples, racialized folks, and frontline workers.

We know that we’ll be most successful if we take action when the decisions are being made, not when they’re being carried out. This means that as organizers, we need to be strategic and lay the groundwork for what’s to come.

Guarantee good, green, union jobs

A just transition should guarantee a good, green, unionized job to anyone who wants one . Putting a jobs guarantee at the centre of the just transition will help ensure nobody is left behind as we meet the climate crisis.

Align with climate science

We need this transition to move at the pace and scale the climate emergency demands. That means that the timeline for and scale for phasing out fossil fuels needs to line up with the latest reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. At a minimum, that means a moratorium on all fossil fuel expansion, including freezing fossil fuel projects currently under construction — like the Trans Mountain pipeline.