Green Jobs: Is This the New "New Economy"?

When: Monday, November 2, 2009 - 18:00 – Tuesday, November 3, 2009 - 08:15

Where: Delta Hotel, Ottawa

Participants discussed the implications of new North American environmental policies on the Canadian job market. In this time of economic hardship, many now view “green” jobs as the path to economic recovery. During his campaign, President Obama even promised to create “five million new ‘green collar’ jobs that can’t be exported.”

But what is a “green” job? Is it only a job in an explicitly environmental field, like alternative energy? Or, is it any job that requires new training as a result of the shift in environmental policy, which would include jobs in construction, the automotive industry, and the oil and gas industry, to name a few?

And, ultimately, what will be the effect on the Canadian job market? What skills will prospective employees require, and what skills will university students of tomorrow need to learn?

Please contact Dianne Gravel-Normand for further information.