Bill S-211 (Historical)

Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act

An Act to enact the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act and to amend the Customs Tariff

This bill is from the 44th Parliament, 1st session, which ended in January 2025.

Status

This bill has received Royal Assent and is now law.

Summary

This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament has also written a full legislative summary of the bill.

This enactment enacts the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act , which imposes an obligation on certain government institutions and private-sector entities to report on the measures taken to prevent and reduce the risk that forced labour or child labour is used by them or in their supply chains. The Act provides for an inspection regime applicable to entities and gives the Minister the power to require an entity to provide certain information.
This enactment also amends the Customs Tariff to allow for aprohibition on the importation of goods manufactured or produced,in whole or in part, by forced labour or child labour as those terms are defined in the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act .

Similar bills

C-243 (44th Parliament, 1st session) Ending the Use of Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act

S-216 (43rd Parliament, 2nd session) Modern Slavery Act

S-211 (43rd Parliament, 1st session) Modern Slavery Act

C-423 (42nd Parliament, 1st session) Modern Slavery Act

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 S-211s:

S-211 (2025) National Framework on Sports Betting Advertising Act

S-211 (2020) International Mother Language Day Act

S-211 (2015) Law National Sickle Cell Awareness Day Act

Votes

May 3, 2023 Passed 3rd reading and adoption of Bill S-211, An Act to enact the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act and to amend the Customs Tariff

June 1, 2022 Passed 2nd reading of Bill S-211, An Act to enact the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act and to amend the Customs Tariff

Debate Summary

This is a computer-generated summary of the speeches below. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.

Bill S-211, the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act, aims to increase transparency and accountability regarding forced and child labor in Canadian supply chains. It would require both government institutions and businesses that meet certain size criteria to report on their efforts to prevent and reduce the risk of forced labor in their supply chains, making these reports publicly accessible. The Minister of Public Safety would have the authority to examine records and ensure compliance, with penalties for non-compliance, and the bill mandates a review after five years.

Conservative

Supportive of the bill: The party supports the legislation as an important step to address supply chain slavery. They are willing to collapse debate so the bill can move to committee for study and constructive amendments.
Strengthen international cooperation: The party emphasizes the need for strengthened international cooperation in combating forced labor, including information sharing and collaborative efforts to identify problem areas.
Regional designations are needed: The party suggests exploring a mechanism of regional designation, similar to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act in the US, to address regions with significant forced labor problems by treating products from those regions differently.
Entities list needed: The party proposes the creation of an entities list to identify suppliers known to be problematic, which would help businesses identify supply chain risks, particularly for those below the threshold outlined in the legislation.

NDP

Supports the bill, but...: The NDP supports Bill S-211 as a necessary and timely piece of legislation, but believes it does not go far enough to address forced and child labor. The party intends to propose amendments at the foreign affairs committee to strengthen the bill.
Need for stronger measures: An effective bill should require companies to prevent harm, conduct due diligence, and provide victims of abuse access to remedies, rather than merely filing annual reports. The current bill needs revision to prevent it from being a mere diversion.
Previous government failures: Past Conservative and Liberal governments have failed to adequately protect marginalized groups from the impacts of bad corporate actors, particularly in the mining and textiles industries. The current government has also failed to act on commitments made in mandate letters, such as addressing the genocide against the Uighur people.
NDP's proposed legislation: The NDP's proposed legislation, Bills C-262 and C-263, represent a more comprehensive approach to human rights and corporate responsibility. These bills propose mandatory human rights due diligence, aligning with global best practices from countries like France, Germany, and Norway, and what is being proposed in the European Union.

Bloc

Supports the bill: The Bloc Québécois supports Bill S-211 as it will increase transparency regarding companies' efforts to combat forced labor, both in Canada and abroad, which is a step in the right direction.
Bare minimum: Bill S-211 is a step in the right direction, but only as we wait for the rest of Canada's laws to be given more teeth, and it is not a sign of leadership, but just the bare minimum they must do to be able to look in the mirror.
Reverse burden of proof: The Bloc believes Canada should emulate the United States by reversing the burden of proof to actively discourage forced labor, demanding companies prove their goods are free from forced labor rather than waiting for evidence to emerge.
Corporate accountability needed: The Bloc emphasizes that Bill S-211 is a minimal step and that Canada needs to move towards enacting human rights due diligence laws, similar to those in Europe, to hold corporations accountable for human rights violations in their supply chains.

Liberal

Supporting supply chain transparency: The bill aims to bring transparency to supply chains and requires governments and businesses to report on their efforts to combat forced and child labor. By making this information publicly available, the bill intends to allow consumers to make more informed purchasing decisions.
Modest but impactful proposal: While acknowledging the bill as a modest contribution, members view the bill as aligning business practices with social and environmental sustainability. Canada is behind other nations in addressing supply chain issues and this bill aims to make headway, but will require continued parliamentary review to further improve and strengthen its impact.
Addressing global exploitation: The bill recognizes that forced and child labor often exist in global supply chains due to companies seeking to maximize profits by sourcing goods from countries with weak labor standards. Most Canadians would not knowingly buy products made by forced labor or child labor, but often do not know how the products they buy are made.

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Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains ActPrivate Members' Business

May 18th, 2022 / 7:05 p.m.

Liberal

John McKay Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood, ON

Madam Speaker, I want to thank all of my colleagues who spoke tonight. I particularly appreciated that our friend from the Bloc got over his aversion to the Senate. Good causes require drastic action.

This has been a long journey. It was a four-year journey. For others, it has been longer than that. At this point, it is an achievable bill. It is something that we can get into legislation. I buy entirely the arguments that colleagues are making about improvements. Certainly, on the support for the improvements, I hope it is there and we will carry on with the harmonious state of the House at this point.

Before this radical harmony breaks out any further, I think I should sit down and we can go back to our usual business. I thank my colleagues and appreciate everyone's hard work.

Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains ActPrivate Members' Business

May 18th, 2022 / 7:10 p.m.

The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès) Alexandra Mendes

The question is on the motion.

If a member of a recognized party present in the House wishes to request a recorded division or that the motion be adopted on division, I would invite them to rise and indicate it to the Chair.

The hon. member for Scarborough—Guildwood.

Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains ActPrivate Members' Business

May 18th, 2022 / 7:10 p.m.

Liberal

John McKay Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood, ON

Madam Speaker, I request a recorded division.

Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains ActPrivate Members' Business

May 18th, 2022 / 7:10 p.m.

The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès) Alexandra Mendes

Pursuant to order made on Thursday, November 25, 2021, the division stands deferred until Wednesday, June 1, 2022, at the expiry of the time provided for Oral Questions.

The House resumed from May 18, consideration of the motion that Bill S-211, An Act to enact the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act and to amend the Customs Tariff, be read the second time and referred to a committee.

Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains ActPrivate Members' Business

June 1st, 2022 / 3:20 p.m.

The Speaker Anthony Rota

It being 3:18 p.m., pursuant to order made on Thursday, November 25, 2021, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion at second reading stage of the bill.

Call in the members.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #113

Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains ActPrivate Members' Business

June 1st, 2022 / 3:30 p.m.

The Speaker Anthony Rota

I declare the motion carried. Accordingly, the bill stands referred to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development.

(Bill read the second time and referred to a committee)