Groundbreaking corporate accountability legislation was tabled in Canada's Parliament today. These two bills would, if passed, help protect people and the planet, and they deserve all-party support.
Writing in the Business and Human Rights Journal, our director Karyn Keenan relates how promises of a robust watchdog to investigate complaints against Canadian multinationals gave way to an office that lacks the powers to do its job.
Today all fourteen civil society and labour union members of the government’s responsible business advisory body resigned, citing an erosion of trust in the government’s commitment to corporate accountability.
Fifteen months ago, the government announced it would create an independent office with the power to investigate abuses by Canadian companies operating abroad. Instead, it unveiled today a powerless advisory post, little different from what has already existed for years.
The Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability is greatly encouraged by the Minister of International Trade’s announcement of the creation of a Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise.
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