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.
As the push for corporate accountability faces setbacks in the United States, could Canada hold the key for legislative progress in North America on business and human rights? In this guest post on the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre website, we discuss how Canada can emerge as a leader in this rapidly evolving field.
United Nations experts are urging the Canadian government to step up its efforts to prevent and remedy human rights abuse by corporations.
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