Statement at the end of visit to Canada by the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights, 1 June 2017

In relation to business and human rights specifically, efforts in Canada to promote the corporate responsibility to respect human rights...have primarily focused on human rights abuse in the extractive sector and on business operations of Canadian companies abroad. This is illustrated by the 2009 CSR Strategy for the Canadian International Extractive Sector, which was updated in 2014, and the ongoing advocacy of Canadian civil society... The extractive sector was a particular area of focus during our visit, because of the importance of this sector to Canada’s economy, and the industry’s global footprint... We believe that there is greater room for both federal and provincial governments, industry associations and companies, to consider their activities both domestically and overseas through a human rights lens... The Business and Human Rights Resource Centre identifies Canada as one of the top three countries with companies connected to reported cases in its database of threats to human rights defenders... We heard from many stakeholders that Canada should encourage more robust human rights due diligence from extractive companies and should begin to address issues such as human trafficking/modern slavery and other human rights abuses in global supply chains.

[sections of statement address: Extractives; Corporate respect for human rights overseas including role of Global Affairs Canada & Trade Commissioner, human rights due diligence, export credit, trade missions/trade privileges, provincial trade & investment offices; Corporate respect for human rights in Canada including engagement with indigenous communities, impact assessments, Mount Polly dam breach, labour issues such as living wage & disability discrimination; Women's human rights & business; Access to effective remedies including CSR counsellor, OECD National Contact Point, proposed ombudsperson, courts, Westray amendments; Human rights defenders & civil society space; Policy coherence; Role of other stakeholders in implementing Guiding Principles; National Action Plan]