International Trade Committee on Feb. 13th, 2023

[Emily Dwyer]

Our network focuses on the rights of impacted people around the world and on ensuring that companies are required to respect those rights.

Part of the reason this is important is that the international system right now allows companies to operate with virtual impunity. We see people around the world being harmed on a regular basis. This has been going on for a really long time. It's borne out in our membership. Several of our members don't necessarily work on corporate accountability or business and human rights, and they found that when they were trying to work on international development projects, on women's rights' issues, on environmental protection, the lack of corporate accountability was getting in the way of those other goals.

[Viviane LaPointe, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

Can you describe—

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Be very brief, Madam Lapointe.

[Viviane LaPointe, Liberal, Sudbury, ON]

—some of the key initiatives and campaigns that you've undertaken to advance that corporate accountability in Canada?

[Emily Dwyer]

Yes.

The network has been around since 2005. We were involved in the national round tables. We worked closely for quite a long time to advance Bill C-300, for the creation of the ombudsperson's office, and for human rights and environmental due diligence legislation.

We also work to bring the voices of impacted people to parliamentarians, because we think that being faced with the stories and accounts of directly impacted people will help to drive the necessary change.

Thank you very much for your time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Thank you very much, Ms. Dwyer, for that valuable information.

I will suspend while we go—

[John McKay, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood, ON]

I have a point of order, Madam Chair.

As you can see, Madam Dwyer and I have a complicated relationship, shall we say. She was a good supporter on Bill C-300. She hasn't seen the light with respect to Bill S-211. I just want, for the edification of the committee, to have the leave of the committee to table Bill S-211, and members can read for themselves whether clause 11 should be interpreted the way I expressed it or the way Ms. Dwyer expressed it.

If I have unanimous consent, I'd be happy to table this.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

I believe you have unanimous consent. I don't see anybody saying anything different, so thank you very much, Mr. McKay.

I will suspend for a few minutes while we go in camera, please.

[Proceedings continue in camera]