Energy

Unifor National President Lana Payne urged the House of Commons Standing Committee on Natural Resources today to put energy workers at the centre of Canada's plan to become an energy superpower, warning that aging infrastructure, "run-to-fail" maintenance strategies, and shrinking domestic capacity are putting the country's energy security at risk.

Watch National President Lana Payne testify to the House of Commons Natural Resources committee to express Unifor's support for reducing Canada's export dependency on the U.S. and warned against the industry's growing reliance on "run to fail" models that endanger energy workers and their communities.

Unifor cautiously welcomes the focus on reducing methane emissions as part of the Canada-Alberta Memorandum of Understanding.

The Honourable Brian Jean
Minister of Energy and Minerals, Government of Alberta

Minister,

On behalf of Unifor’s Energy Industry Council, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to meet on November 24 to discuss the priorities of our energy worker members. Unifor Energy Council represents 15,000 members working in oil and gas extraction, natural gas distribution, electric utilities, and petroleum refineries across Canada.

HAMILTON—The abrupt closure announcement by Biox Corporation is the latest example of a failure to secure Canada’s domestic energy supply, says Unifor.

The union is urging federal and provincial officials to make simple regulatory changes that could help re-start the facility and lay the groundwork for securing Canada’s energy future.

ST. JOHN’S—Energy workers aboard the SeaRose Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessel have voted to join Unifor.

Dear Prime Minister Carney,

Re: Immediate Use and Strengthening of the Foreign Extraterritorial Measures Act to Prevent Offshoring of Canadian Jobs

BURNABY—Unifor is raising serious concerns about the sale of one of British Columbia’s last remaining oil refineries to American energy giant Sunoco. The refinery is part of a larger list of assets across Canada being sold from Parkland to Sunoco.

ST. JOHN’S—More than 120 Unifor members gathered in St. John’s this week to coordinate strategies and adopt proposals ahead of upcoming national energy and chemicals sector negotiations.

The three-day gathering brought together local union leadership and bargaining committee members from across the country, united under the National Energy and Chemicals Bargaining Program. Participants officially adopted bargaining proposals that had been developed by locals and reviewed by the program’s advisory committee.

WINNIPEG—Wage increases and changes to scheduling to improve work-life balance are key features of a new contract ratified on March 18, 2025 by members of Unifor Local 681 employed at Manitoba Hydro.

“This agreement delivers real gains that recognize gas workers’ important and skilled work keeping Manitobans safe and warm,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “A strong mandate from the membership was critical to achieving success.”

Local 681 members voted 90% in favour of strike action on February 3 after bargaining reached an impasse.