Just Transition rally in Campbell River

Max Thaysen/ Campbell River - Cortes Currents was in attendance at the March 12 “Just Transition Day of Action” event in Campbell River.


Approximately 25 people attended the event, promoted and inspired by the international climate organization 350.org and hosted locally by the Campbell River Chapter of Council of Canadians, a national justice, democracy and human survival organization.


The event was facilitated by MC Rich Hagensen from the Council of Canadians. Hagensen began his presentation by acknowledging the traditional territories of local first nations.


Hagensen then indicated that he had a box full of election promises made by Justin Trudeau. From the box he pulled out a folder call Just Transition Act. He pointed out that the folder was empty – referring to the fact that the government has not yet written the act nor fulfilled the promise.


There was a petition circulated at the event that listed the demands of the demonstrators. It read:


“Canada must address the climate emergency NOW! NOW is the time to call on the Prime Minister and Government of Canada to pass a just transition act in parliament that:
winds down the fossil fuel industry and ends fossil fuel subsidies

creates good green jobs led by and including affected workers and communities

expands the social safety net through new income supports, decarbonized public housing and fnding for affordable and accessible public transit

expands public ownership of services and utilities

reduces emmissions by at least 60% below 2005 levels

pays for the transition by increasing taxes on the wealthiest and corporations and financing with a public national bank

protects and strengthens human and worker rights and respects indigenous rights, sovereignty and knowledge by including them in creating and implementing the legislation”



Presenters from the Council of Canadians read out the Just Transition Act demands and discussed the important role of government in transitioning to a clean and green economy.


Rachel Blaney, member of parliament for North-Island/Powell River, was in attendance for the presentation. She then spoke to the crowd expressing support for the demands.


Blaney stressed the importance of a local approach to the transition and ensuring that people have jobs in the new green economy.


She has presented similar requests to the Liberal government in the past. In November 2020, she introduced a private member's motion that called for principles for pandemic recovery spending that included equitable distribution, supporting the United Nations Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the prioritization of projects that sequester or mitigate carbon emissions and the storage of ground water, and the prioritization of projects that support local small business and economic diversification.


350.org Day of Action events were held across the country, in 47 communities.