“Alberta has a bright future in a changing world.” – AFL’s McGowan
EDMONTON – As the global energy transition picks up speed, Alberta’s largest worker advocacy group, the Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) is launching a new campaign and tour, called Diversify Alberta, aimed at giving workers in the province a platform to tell decision makers about their hopes, concerns, and preferences as the economy evolves.
“As it stands right now, we have one camp saying, ‘shut it all down’ and another camp saying, ‘drill baby, drill,’” says AFL president Gil McGowan. “From our perspective, this is not a constructive way to approach the conversation.
“Albertans understand that change is coming. That’s what the Diversify Alberta tour is about. The politicians and the pundits have been talking non-stop. But now it’s time for Alberta workers to have their say.”
The town halls, facilitated by McGowan and Energi Media’s Markham Hislop, will include a discussion on the future of energy jobs, including the new opportunities for the oil and gas sector, and renewable energy sectors. The events will be hosted across southern Alberta, including stops in:
Lethbridge – TO BE RESCHEDULED
Pincher Creek – TO BE RESCHEDULED
Medicine Hat – TO BE RESCHEDULED
Brooks – TO BE RESCHEDULED
Olds (March 18), 6:30 p.m.
Nanton (March 19), 6:30 p.m.
Okotoks (March 20), 6:30 p.m.
Calgary (March 21), 6:30 p.m.
In addition to the tour, the campaign also features a website, DiversifyAlberta.ca, which is built around a report prepared by the AFL and a coalition of unions representing Albertans working in the province’s oil and gas, construction, and manufacturing sectors. The report, entitled “Skate to Where the Puck is Going,” was released last year and lays out an economic blueprint that, if followed, would allow Alberta to grow and prosper in a changing world.
“We put our ‘Skate to Where the Puck is Going’ report together to lobby governments; now we’ll be using it to start conversations with workers across the province,” says McGowan. “Our goal is to keep as many people working in our traditional industries as possible, for as long as possible, while at the same time pivoting towards new opportunities in the lower-carbon economy.”
The campaign will also feature a blog series to be shared widely on social media, starting with a blog explaining why Alberta should implement a government-led industrial policy similar to the one created south of the border by the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
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MEDIA CONTACT:
John Ashton
Director of Communications, AFL
Email: jashton@afl.org