Read on the GuardianCanada Eliminates Human Rights Watchdog for Companies Operating Abroad
The Canadian government has announced the elimination of the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE), a watchdog established in 2019 to investigate alleged human rights violations by Canadian companies operating overseas. Prime Minister Mark Carney cited the office's ineffectiveness, noting it launched only five investigations in six years. The decision comes as Canada faces criticism from the Trump administration over its efforts to combat forced labour, particularly in supply chains linked to China's Xinjiang region.
Canada has eliminated the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE), the federal watchdog tasked with investigating alleged human rights violations committed by Canadian companies operating abroad. The decision, announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney, comes after he stated that the office had not been “effective” since its establishment in 2019. Read the full report.
Background and Establishment of CORE
The Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise was established by the previous Liberal government under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2019. The office was created to investigate human rights abuses, including the use of forced labour by Canadian companies, with a significant focus on allegations related to China's use of the Uyghur ethnic minority for what critics call forced labour in the Xinjiang region. Despite years of public reports from human rights groups, Beijing disputes these claims.
CORE was intended to provide an independent mechanism for addressing complaints against Canadian companies and their supply chains, particularly in sectors such as mining and apparel manufacturing. The watchdog was also tasked with mediation and issuing recommendations to improve corporate accountability.
Limited Effectiveness and Few Investigations
Over its six-year existence, CORE launched only five formal investigations. These included probes into three US clothing companies with Canadian operations—Ralph Lauren, Nike, and Levi Strauss—as well as two mining companies: GobiMin and Dynasty Gold Corp. In nearly all cases, the allegations centered on the use of forced labour in the Xinjiang region of China. The watchdog also used its mediation mechanism after Hugo Boss faced similar allegations. Notably, Core issued formal recommendations against only two companies during its tenure.
Prime Minister Carney described the office as having been “less effective” in enforcing Canada's laws against forced labour, including the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act. He stated that the decision to eliminate the role was made “a few months ago” as part of broader austerity measures aimed at reviewing the function of various federal offices and cutting resources where they are used inefficiently.
Criticism from Lawmakers and Advocates
The elimination of CORE has drawn criticism from opposition lawmakers and human rights advocates. Green Party leader Elizabeth May stated that “CORE has never been given the independence or powers it needs to do its job properly,” adding that “the solution to a flawed office cannot be to simply do away with it entirely.” She emphasized that the Green Party has long called for the office to be strengthened so it can actually investigate abuses, compel evidence, and deliver accountability.
Some federal ministers had previously defended CORE as an important part of Canada’s efforts to combat human rights violations. When touring China in the spring as part of a trade mission, Canada’s finance minister, François-Philippe Champagne, cited Core as a safeguard against the use of forced labour in Chinese automobiles that might one day be sold in Canada.
New Legislation and Forced Labour List
The Liberal government announced on Friday that new legislation will create a public list of products that have been linked to forced labour in specific regions. Importers will be required to prove that specific products from listed regions were not made through slavery. This move is intended to address concerns raised by the Trump administration, which recently called out Canada—along with 80 other nations—for its perceived inability to tackle the use of forced labour in supply chains.
The White House had previously announced it would impose tariffs on Canada for what it suggested were weak enforcement rules around goods made with forced labour. The Liberals say the new legislation should address the issues raised by the US administration, potentially averting the trade penalties.
Reactions and Future Outlook
The decision to eliminate CORE has been met with mixed reactions. Business groups may view it as a reduction of regulatory burden, while human rights organizations see it as a step backward for corporate accountability. The Canadian government maintains that its new legislation will provide a more effective framework for combating forced labour in global supply chains.
As Canada navigates its relationship with the United States and faces ongoing scrutiny of its human rights enforcement, the elimination of CORE marks a significant shift in policy. The new public list of forced labour-linked products and the requirement for importers to prove ethical sourcing represent the government’s revised approach to this complex issue.
