Resource Works served as the convening platform for the project, marking the first time the BC-based organization has stepped up to a national mandate.

“The timing was right for the Real Jobs, Real Recovery work and it turned out to be something that we were perfectly suited for,” said Stewart Muir, executive director of Resource Works. “Coming back from COVID-19 will be much easier for Canada once we acknowledge the potential for the natural resource sector to lead the way with a clean, inclusive and competitive slate of innovations.

“We need economic solutions that punch above their weight. It’s the only way to address the significant fallout to our economy caused by COVID-19. Projections are for our economy to shrink from 6 to even 7 per cent if we see a second wave in 2020. The good news is that the resource sector can be our engine of growth, while we continue to take meaningful climate action.”

The report was released in August 2020 with 19 recommendations. Areas of potential include carbon capture, petrochemicals, hydrogen, small nuclear, transmission lines and greater Indigenous economic participation. The full report can be seen here.

Media coverage included:

• Vancouver Sun: Group pitches resource sector as cornerstone for Canada’s post-COVID recovery
• Calgary Herald: Varcoe: Resource sector says it can add 2.6 million jobs to a green economic recovery
• Tom Fletcher, Black Press: ‘Real jobs, real recovery’ needed after COVID-19, resource industries say
• Nelson Bennett, BIV: Economic Recovery? Release the Kraken
• Chuck Chiang, BIV: Business coalition asks Ottawa to lean into natural resources to recover from COVID-19
• Laura Briggs, Energetic City: National Task Force releases a plan for Canada’s economic recovery
• Holly Quan, CAPP Context Energy Examined: Task force to recommend policies for jobs, economic recovery

Before the report’s publication, a number of commentary articles were published by members of the 20-person advisory group:

• “Opinion: Economic underperformance, excessive indebtedness, and our constrained future” – July 25th, 2020 – Mac Van Wielingen in the Calgary Herald
• “Indigenous communities need to be partners in Canada’s COVID-19 recovery plan”  – July 29th, 2020 – Joseph Quesnel in the Globe and Mail
• “Canada needs to go nuclear to reach our emissions targets” – August 7th, 2020 – Kim Rudd and Sean Willy in the Financial Post
• “B.C.’s at-risk Site C dam is an omen for energy projects across Canada” – August 11th, 2020 – Adam Pankratz in the Globe and Mail
• “Canada’s mining industry poised to benefit from clean technology” – August 17th, 2020 – Patricia Mohr in the Vancouver Sun

In September, the Task Force team will continue to share its findings with key influencers.