Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and honourable deputies.
My focus today is on the Government of Canada's overall effort to support responsible business practice among Canadian firms operating and sourcing abroad.
Responsible business practice is embedded in Canadian values. Canadian businesses operating responsibly increase their chances of success and contribute to prosperity and development in the countries in which they operate. The Government of Canada expects and encourages Canadian companies operating internationally to respect all applicable laws and international standards, to operate transparently and in consultation with host governments and host communities, and to conduct their activities in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. This includes sourcing responsibly.
Many countries in which Canadian businesses operate lack the capacity to ensure that business operates responsibly there. Consistent with Canadian values, we help fill the gap through a variety of initiatives to assist Canadian companies with the challenges they face operating responsibly abroad. Canada's adherence to the OECD's guidelines for multinational enterprises in 1976 was a significant early step.
The Government of Canada engages interdepartmentally on a variety of cross-cutting issues impacting responsible sourcing, including widely varying standards of regulation and widely varying standards of enforcement in other markets.
The work addressing the challenges involved in responsible business practice in the ready-made garment sector is coordinated through an interdepartmental working group, including the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development; Industry Canada; Employment and Social Development Canada; the National Research Council of Canada; and Public Works and Government Services Canada.
We also engage with industry, civil society partners, and multilaterally to explore how to encourage good practices. Recently, both my department and Employment and Social Development Canada held separate information sessions specifically focused on responsible supply chain practices in the ready-made garment sector. Some of our partners are witnesses today.
We welcome industry initiatives and encourage companies to consider signing onto those that support improving working conditions, such as the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh or the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety.
Canada's missions abroad are core to our efforts to help Canadian business operate responsibly. Through a variety of initiatives, they can have a tangible impact. My colleague, Peter MacArthur, will illustrate some of the roles our missions play using the example of our high commission in Bangladesh. One example is the high commission's publication of a book for companies in Bangladesh on how to operate responsibly.
While attention has recently been focused on the ready-made garment sector in Bangladesh, responsible sourcing applies to numerous global supply chains in a variety of manufacturing sectors. Therefore we remain committed to assisting Canadian companies with responsible business practice wherever they are active and in whatever sector.
The Government of Canada will continue to promote responsible business practice across all sectors and provide tools and advice to help Canadian companies operate responsibly and successfully abroad.
Thank you for the opportunity to present to you today, and I look forward to your questions.