The federal government is preparing to spend billions training 100,000 skilled workers under its Team Canada Strong agenda, without a clear plan for the economy those workers are meant to serve. 

Instead, Canada should align workforce planning, funding and training with the industries driving future growth.  

The global economy won’t wait for Canada to catch up. Countries are competing to lead in the industries that will define the next decade, from electric vehicle supply chains and battery production to critical minerals, low-carbon building materials and modern electricity systems. China already dominates battery manufacturing and critical mineral supply chains; the European Union is aligning industrial policy with electrification and energy security goals. These countries are building the workforce capacity required to support those industries. 

Canada, meanwhile, is not.

In the construction and building skilled trades alone, the transition to a net-zero economy could support 350,000 ongoing jobs in Canada between now and 2050. Globally, the electricity sector is now the largest energy employer, outpacing fossil fuels —........

© National Observer