Alberta vs. Saskatchewan

When it comes to supporting coal miners, its not even close. Saskatchewan, usually quick to follow Alberta’s lead, has refused to stand up for coal miners.

In the face of the federal government’s all out onslaught on coal, the government of Alberta stepped up to the plate and established the $40-million Coal Workforce Transition Fund to provide support and resources to coal miners and families affected by the transition away from coal-fired electricity generation. The government of Saskatchewan on the other hand, usually quick to follow Alberta’s lead, has failed to commit even a single dollar to support coal miners and their families. Quick to the mic to condemn Ottawa’s anti-energy policies, the provincial government has failed to step up to the plate, as the Alberta government did to protect our coal families. Let’s take a look at some of the supports available to coal miners in Alberta (but not in Saskatchewan) including the following: Financial Assistance: The Coal Workforce Transition Program provides financial assistance to coal miners who are affected by the transition away from coal-fired electricity generation. This includes income support for unemployed miners, as well as funding for training, education, retirement, relocation and education for miners wanting to start new jobs or retire. The specifics: Bridging to re-employment: The bridge to re-employment relief grant provides financial assistance to workers as they search for a new job. Workers will receive up to 75% of their previous weekly earnings when combined with Employment Insurance benefits. Bridge to retirement: The bridge to retirement relief grant provides financial assistance to workers who are close to retirement. Miners will receive up to 75% of their previous weekly earnings for up to 72 weeks. Relocation assistance: Workers who have moved at least 40km to start a new job are eligible for up to $5,000 to help pay for moving-related expenses. Tuition voucher: The Coal and Electricity Transition Tuition Voucher provides miners up to $12,000 to pursue post-secondary education to train for new careers. Onsite career counselling services: dCareer consultants can be available at each affected worksite to help workers determine their best options for future employment. Onsite workforce transition services: The Just Transition Office offers workforce transition programs to help coal miners acquire new skills and training to help them find employment in other industries. These programs focus on trades, technology, and entrepreneurship, and are designed to help workers make a successful transition to new careers. Workforce adjustment service: Facilitators help mines and unions to develop unique transition strategies and determine what supports and services are needed from government and other organizations as well as how those supports should be tailored to meet specific needs of coal workers. Worker adjustment committees: Facilitators can assist employers, employees and unions to establish a worker adjustment committee to develop a transition plan for their worksite. Overall, the government of Alberta's supports for coal miners aim to ensure that workers and communities affected by the transition away from coal-fired electricity generation are supported and empowered to make a successful transition to new opportunities. On the other hand, it appears that the government of Saskatchewan has deliberately abandoned Saskatchewan coal miners and their families - a disposable workforce. Combined with the government’s commitment to import coal-fired electricity from the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) the message to coal miners is crystal clear: We DON’T have your back. For more information on Alberta’s supports for coal miners: https://www.alberta.ca/support-for-coal-workers.aspx Saskatchewan Coal Transition Centre