Evidence of meeting #73 for Subcommittee on International Human Rights in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was firms.
A recording is available from Parliament.
2 p.m.
Professor, School of International Development and Global Studies, University of Ottawa, As an Individual
Mr. Sweet, call-out for Ancaster-Dundas, my hometown.
First of all, I don't think we are in agreement on this at all actually. I don't find CSR to be ineffective; there are only certain conditions under which it is effective.
2 p.m.
Conservative
2 p.m.
Professor, School of International Development and Global Studies, University of Ottawa, As an Individual
I think the current CSR counsellor has done a very good job overall in engaging with corporations. That is his job, but the instruments the government has provided him are not disciplinary instruments, by and large, and so it hasn't gone that way.
2 p.m.
Conservative
David Sweet Conservative Flamborough—Glanbrook, ON
He did make the point that he needs some more tools.
Mr. Webber.
2 p.m.
Senior Lecturer, School of Politics and International Relations, Queen Mary University of London, As an Individual
I would suggest that the measure of complaints going to the current CSR counsellor has to be treated as anecdotal evidence for intensity of conflict. There is a lag time between serious scholarly investigation into rates of social conflict and violence and so on. The latest data of the latest serious study, The “Canada Brand” report, which came out in November 2016, had data up to 2015, in which you did not see a decline in 2015. It is too early to say, I think, with the resources we have whether activity could be declining. If it is declining, which I think is an open question, not verifiable by anecdotal evidence of the current CSR counsellor, it could very well be because of a declining investment during the slowdown of the commodities boom as much as anything else.
2 p.m.
Conservative
David Sweet Conservative Flamborough—Glanbrook, ON
Mr. Haslam, you mentioned two things. You said that you saw an increase of corporate social responsibility among Canadian companies. You said that what they need are institutional mechanisms to engage the community and making sure that there is a distribution of material benefits. Is there something that the Government of Canada could do to promote that within Canadian firms?
2 p.m.
Professor, School of International Development and Global Studies, University of Ottawa, As an Individual
That's a really interesting question.
Certain codes require ongoing consultations. The government could require that. I think it's probably not in the interest of the government to tell companies how to use their profits. That being said, I think companies that spend more and distribute more broadly in their communities tend to do better in them. I think that's a self-interest issue for companies. I'm not sure it's appropriate or even possible to regulate extraterritorially by the Canadian government as a practical, legal matter.
2 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Michael Levitt
Thank you very much to both our witnesses today. Again, Dr. Webber, you travelled a long way. Dr. Haslam, not quite as far, but we appreciate your being here, too. Thank you.
The meeting is adjourned.