Bill C-584 (Historical)

Corporate Social Responsibility of Extractive Corporations Outside Canada Act

An Act respecting the Corporate Social Responsibility Inherent in the Activities of Canadian Extractive Corporations in Developing Countries

This bill is from the 41st Parliament, 2nd session, which ended in August 2015.

Sponsor

Ève Péclet  NDP

Introduced as a private member’s bill. (These don’t often become law.)

Status

Defeated, as of Oct. 1, 2014
(This bill did not become law.)

Summary

This is from the published bill.

This enactment is intended to ensure the extractive activities of Canadian corporations in developing countries respect Canada’s commitments under international law and the International Bill of Rights. It creates the Office of the Ombudsman and requires corporations to report to it on their extractive activities. It also gives the Office of the Ombudsman responsibility for developing guidelines on best practices for extractive activities and requires the Ombudsman to table an annual report on this Act and its operation before each House of Parliament.

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

Bill numbers are reused for different bills each new session. Perhaps you were looking for one of these other C-584s:

C-584 (2010) An Act to amend the Hazardous Products Act (plastic bags)

Votes

Oct. 1, 2014 Failed That the Bill be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development.

Corporate Social Responsibility of Extractive Corporations Outside Canada ActRoutine Proceedings

March 31st, 2014 / 3:10 p.m.

NDP

Ève Péclet NDP La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-584, An Act respecting the Corporate Social Responsibility Inherent in the Activities of Canadian Extractive Corporations in Developing Countries.

Mr. Speaker, I am very happy to rise to introduce my bill today.

Canada is in a unique position. Over 75% of all mining corporations and corporations in the extractive sector are incorporated here in Canada.

In most cases, these companies operate in countries with populations that are vulnerable because of factors such as political instability and lack of security. They also operate in countries where workers' rights, human rights and environmental protections are neither adequately respected nor effectively enforced.

Respect for these principles should not be limited by a state's ability to fulfill its obligations in this arena or its interest in doing so. That is why, today, I am introducing a bill that calls for the creation of an ombudsman for the corporate social responsibility of Canadian extractive corporations, to promote the responsible mining development values that all Canadians subscribe to outside Canada.

This bill was drafted in response to a recommendation from the 2007 report of the National Roundtables on Corporate Social Responsibility.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)