Advocates Urge Ottawa for Full Reform as Watchdog for Firms Operating Abroad is Replaced

Advocates are urging Ottawa to make significant changes to the authority of the watchdog overseeing Canadian businesses operating internationally, as the Liberals assess how a new ombudsman should fulfill this role.

The Trudeau government replaced a monitor for the mining sector five years ago with what is now known as the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise.

The office initiated its first investigations last summer and completed just one case in March, which involved a Vancouver company not adequately preventing potential slave labor in China.

In her report, ombudsperson Sherri Meyerhoffer expressed her inability to compel documents and testimony, hindering her from fully holding Canadian corporations accountable.

Ms. Meyerhoffer concluded her term last week, and Ottawa has appointed former Global Affairs Canada lawyer Masud Husain as her successor.

Karen Hamilton, director of the advocacy group Above Ground, insists that Ottawa must empower him to compel documents and broaden his mandate beyond the mining, petroleum, and garment sectors.

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