Mr. Speaker, in 2018, the Liberal government announced that it would be creating an ombudsperson position with robust powers to keep companies accountable, but it never delivered on that promise. Before the office ever got off the ground, the Liberals gutted it of all of its power.
On behalf of over 6,000 Canadians who have signed this petition and the many individuals and organizations that have been fighting for over a decade, I am asking for an ombudsperson who is independent from government and big business; has the power to investigate, including the power to compel documents and testimony under oath from Canadians; and is committed to advancing human rights.
Canadians expect that Canadian corporations will play by the rules, regardless of where they work; and if they do not, the office of the ombudsperson for responsible enterprise will hold them to account. We need an ombudsperson who can do the job and we need it now.