Call for Applications
Chair and Independent Members
Taxonomy and Transition Planning Council

 
In December 2025, the federal government announced two years of seed funding to develop Canada’s sustainable investment guidelines, commonly referred to as a sustainable finance taxonomy. 

 

More than 60 sustainable finance taxonomies are currently being used and developed around the world, including almost all of Canada’s major trading partners, showing the importance of taxonomies in unlocking national and international capital for decarbonization, climate adaptation, and resilience.

 

Successfully establishing sustainable finance investment guidelines in Canada will be crucial to securing our country’s energy transition and future prosperity. It will create a common language for capital markets around the types of projects and activities that are aligned with Canada’s climate and economic goals. And it will help mobilize private finance towards new clean growth projects that can decarbonize existing, emissions-intensive sectors, increasing their global competitiveness.

 

The Department of Finance Canada appointed the Canadian Climate Institute, in collaboration with Business Future Pathways, to establish a robust and independent governance structure to oversee the development of science-based taxonomy criteria and undertake stakeholder engagement. To ensure the arm’s-length approach is respected, an Appointment Committee led by Kathy Bardswick will nominate an independent Taxonomy and Transition Planning Council (“the Council”) to oversee the development and approval of Canada’s green and transition investment taxonomy and related transition planning guidance.

 

The Appointment Committee is recruiting a Chair to lead the Council and two to three Independent Members to contribute to the Council work, enhancing its independence and credibility.

 

The Council

The Council is the main body governing the taxonomy and transition planning work. The Council provides taxonomy oversight and makes decisions based on the evidence and recommendations provided by the Custodian (the body leading the research), and formal public consultations. The Council operates independently, supported by a Secretariat, Advisory Groups and sector-specific technical experts. The Council is composed of a Chair, Independent Members, representatives of the Advisory Groups, and Official Observers. It works closely with a wide range of public- and private-sector stakeholders to solicit feedback and facilitate adoption across financial and capital markets.

The Council’s role is to uphold the credibility, scientific integrity, transparency, and usability of the taxonomy to ensure it:

  • Mobilizes capital toward Canada’s net-zero transition.
  • Is science-based, credible, and aligned with the objectives of the Paris Agreement.
  • Is interoperable with leading international taxonomies while reflecting Canada’s economic context.
  • Incorporates dynamic review processes and robust governance.
  • Integrates do-no-significant-harm considerations, including environmental, social, and Indigenous perspectives.

Chair Role

Click here to learn more about the roles, responsibilities, and desired profile of the Chair role.

 

Independent Members Role

Click here to learn more about the roles, responsibilities, and desired profile of Independent Members. 

How to Apply

Interested candidates in either the Chair or Independent Members role are invited to submit a cover letter and curriculum vitae to secretariat@businessfuturepathways.ca by February 27th, 2026 11:59 pm ET. Candidates will be evaluated on a rolling basis.

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