SumOfUs: A Just Recovery

The 6 principles for a Just Recovery

SumOfUs joined hundreds of organizations — from unions to grassroots groups — to co-create the Principles of a Just Recovery post COVID-19.

In the midst of converging health, economic and climate crises, it is irresponsible to go back to a “normal”. “Normal” was widespread inequality, precarious work, climate inaction, environmental degradation and colonial violence.

It’s obvious that we need something new — and that’s just what the Principles of a Just Recovery offer.

We know that the Just Recovery won’t happen in one fell swoop but through a series of steps and changes over time.

As one of the first steps, SumOfUs is pushing for Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada to stop dumping hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars into oil subsidies and reinvest in clean energy and long-term sustainable jobs.

Will you join the over 13,000 SumOfUs members calling for Canada to have a Just Green Recovery?

The Principles for a Just Recovery envision a beautiful, new world where human rights, good work and environmental protection are centred.

The 6 principles of Just Recovery

- Put people’s health and wellbeing first. No exceptions
- Strengthen the social safety net and provide relief directly to people
- Prioritize the needs of workers and communities
- Build resilience to prevent future crises
- Build solidarity and equity across communities, generations, and borders
- Uphold Indigenous Rights and work in partnership with Indigenous peoples

Want to learn more? Visit the Just Recovery For All website.

Here’s an in-depth rundown of the Principles:

1. Put people’s health and wellbeing first. No exceptions.

Put people’s health and wellbeing first. No exceptions.

Health is a human right and is interdependent with the health and well-being of ecological systems.

Recognizing this, ensure that all policies and programs address the social, economic and environmental determinants of health and are responsive to the climate emergency, which is, in itself, a health crisis. Learn from the pandemic: develop policies and make investments that keep communities and workplaces, particularly those on the frontlines, safe.

2. Strengthen the social safety net and provide relief directly to people

Strengthen the social safety net and provide relief directly to people

Focus relief efforts on people – particularly those who are structurally oppressed by existing systems.

Prioritize redistributive policies and social services that meet the immediate and long-term needs of all people and eliminate social, economic, and wealth inequalities. Rebuild a single-tier immigration system with permanent resident status for all.

3. Prioritize the needs of workers and communities

Prioritize the needs of workers and communities

Support must be distributed in a manner consistent with Indigenous sovereignty, a climate resilient economy, and worker rights, including safe and fair labour standards and a right to unionize. Improved conditions for essential service workers must be maintained beyond this crisis.

Bailout packages must not encourage unqualified handouts, regulatory rollbacks, or regressive subsidies that enrich shareholders or CEOs, particularly those who take advantage of tax havens. These programs must support a just transition away from fossil fuels that creates decent work and leaves no one behind.

4. Build resilience to prevent future crises

Build resilience to prevent future crises

We cannot recover from the current crisis by entrenching systems that will cause the next crisis.

We must invest in sustainable infrastructure and build resiliency within communities, ensuring that people can access public essential services, meet their basic needs, and engage in cultural and artistic expression.

5. Build solidarity and equity across communities, generations, and borders

Build solidarity and equity across communities, generations, and borders

In a globalized world, what happens to one of us matters to all of us.

A Just Recovery must be guided by the principles of equity, solidarity, and sustainability across domestic and international relations. Recovery plans must honour and expand human rights, including the rights of Indigenous peoples, and advance gender equity while opposing authoritarian regimes and oppressive systems.

6. Uphold Indigenous Rights and work in partnership with Indigenous peoples