Montreal, September 26, 2025. Development and Peace ― Caritas Canada announces the conclusion of its 2024 advocacy campaign, Reaping our Rights, with the delivery of a petition bearing more than 52,000 signatures to the Canadian government during an event on Parliament Hill earlier today.
In solidarity with peasant communities and small-scale farmers, the campaign sought to ensure their rights are respected by calling on the Government of Canada to adopt strong mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence (mHREDD) legislation. Such legislation would require Canadian companies to respect the environment and human rights across their global supply chains.
This morning’s event was originally scheduled for April but had to be postponed because of the change of government that month. Over 70 people from Quebec and Ontario were there to show their solidarity with peasant communities in the Global South and to demand action from the Canadian government. Among them was Anna Dorner from Ottawa, who said, “When it comes to human rights violations and environmental degradation by Canadian companies in other countries, I want our government to put a stop to it. That’s why I am here, despite having been very busy. This campaign is very important for me.”
Organized in collaboration with the Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability (CNCA), the event featured a work by artist Melissa Torres created using petition cards from the campaign.
Bloc Québécois MP Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay was not present at the event but sent a message of support to participants, saying, “A true due diligence law must cover companies of all sizes, and not be limited to requiring an annual report, but include real internal measures, cover all human rights, and offer legal recourse to victims.”
Reiterating the need for mHREDD laws to constrain corporations operating abroad, Carl Hétu, executive director of Development and Peace ― Caritas Canada, said, “For too long, we have heard from our partners all around the world that Canadian businesses are responsible for destroying the environment and introducing violence in communities. In Canada, it’s easy to think we’re a gentler country than some other wealthy countries, but in the Global South, Canada has a different reputation. We are proud to be here with our friends from the CNCA to show that Canadians in faith groups, labour unions, and other organizations all agree that Canada must do better.”
Development and Peace ― Caritas Canada would like to thank its members and the Canadian public for their strong involvement in the success of this campaign.
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About Development and Peace — Caritas Canada
Development and Peace — Caritas Canada is the official international development organization of the Catholic Church in Canada. It works in partnership with local organizations in over 30 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin American and the Middle East to create greater justice in the world and to act in solidarity with the most vulnerable people.
For more information, contact:
Minaz Kerawala
Communications and Public Relations Advisor
514 257-8710 ext. 328 | mkerawala@devp.org