Our members and partners around the world have been mobilizing for an independent human rights ombudsperson in solidarity with communities in the Global South experiencing human rights violations by Canadian extractive companies. Their incredible work is keeping this issue alive and we need you to keep up the pressure!
We need to ensure that the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Business Enterprise (CORE) will be an independent office with the powers to investigate complaints so that it will be a real voice for justice.
On Monday, April 8, the federal government appointed the CORE but failed to create an independent office with real powers to investigate abuses and redress harms caused by Canadian companies operating abroad, essentially breaking a promise made 15 months ago. Minister Carr announced that he is seeking external legal advice on the possibility of granting the power to compel testimony and evidence and gave early June as a time frame for reviewing those conclusions. This gives us just a few short weeks to make sure that the government keeps its promise that the Office of the CORE will be completely autonomous and will have the necessary investigative powers to compel documents and testimony.
Development and Peace-Caritas Canada, in cooperation with the CNCA, has been advocating for an effective ombudsperson for over a decade. After over 300,000 signatures, hundreds of meetings with Members of Parliament, a letter signed by over 200 organizations from 56 countries around the world, a another letter signed by over 200 Latin American organizations, rallies and protests across the country, and a letter from the president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Trudeau government needs to fulfill its promise!
The time to act is now! Sign the e-petition “Canada’s Corporate Watchdog has no teeth”
The Canadian Network of Corporate Accountability (CNCA) and Development and Peace – Caritas Canada are joining with Amnesty International Canada on a joint petition. We are hoping to get thousands of signatories to this petition, to represent the massive support for this campaign. Please sign and ask your friends to sign it as well. The e-petition will be delivered to the government on May 27. We also invite you to call or write to your MP, asking them to ensure that the ombudsperson is truly a voice for justice!
SIGN NOW
Again, thank you for all the incredible work you are doing! Your persistent efforts make all the difference.
