Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have provided copies of my remarks in both official languages and I'll present a somewhat abridged version of them. Thank you very much for the opportunity to speak to you today. My opening remarks will focus on Canada's mining sector and corporate social

Foreign Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, in starting my response, I'd like to reiterate the fundamental objectives of the government in terms of implementing a multi-pronged strategy to improve the CSR performance of the Canadian extractive industry and as well to contribute to governance and institutional ca

Foreign Affairs committee  As I've outlined, the government believes that through the CSR strategy it announced last spring, coupled with the measures in place and the commitment of industry and other stakeholders to work forward on this, there is a substantive mechanism in place that both proactively prom

Foreign Affairs committee  The Canadian CSR strategy that the government announced in the spring is unique in the world. Other countries as well as Canada have the national contact point as part of their implementation of the OECD guidelines for multinational enterprises. We've gone a significant step furt

Foreign Affairs committee  I'd first like to respond to your initial statement regarding the role and responsibilities of the CSR counsellor. It is very important to look at it in the context of existing measures, such as a national contact point, the adoption by EDC of the Equator Principles, and its comp

Foreign Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, in response to the question, in the first instance I just want to reiterate the point I made that the government's CSR strategy responds substantially to the recommendations of the round table report and builds on measures in place, including the adoption by EDC of the

Foreign Affairs committee  I'd like to respond in several regards. In the first instance, the government's CSR strategy and the policy foundation for it is a proactive approach of continuous improvement of industry performance, of measures to address disputes and undertake fact-finding and, as well, of f

Foreign Affairs committee  I'd like to respond to a number of points raised in the question. First of all, the Government of Canada, in adhering to and promoting the OECD guidelines for multinational enterprises, does have an economy-wide approach and the national contact point, representing a mechanism t

Foreign Affairs committee  As I noted, the government strategy identifies the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights as one of the performance standards for industry to follow. Canada has applied to join and has joined those. The Equator Principles, which guide the investment risk analysis and d

Foreign Affairs committee  I'll answer your specific question first, and then respond more generally to some of the other points you raised. Indeed, the definition of the role and responsibilities of the extractive sector counsellor--proceeding with the process outlined from assessment to informal mediati

Foreign Affairs committee  Correct. I guess the two things I would note are that that would be reported, because of the commitment to transparent reporting, and then second, I think the great majority of companies would want to participate because of the transparency.

Foreign Affairs committee  No, but there is transparent reporting and the fact that a complaint was made and that it wasn't addressed.... And again, more fundamentally, with regard to the round table report, the responsibilities of the CSR extractive counsellor are substantively similar to those envisaged

Foreign Affairs committee  I'd agree that over the past decade this has been an area of interest for multilateral groups, the World Bank, and other countries as well as Canada.

Foreign Affairs committee  It resulted from an international multi-stakeholder process. In the context of that situation, it was the right thing—

Foreign Affairs committee  —and Canada supported it. But in regard to your comment about Norway and their pension plan, the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board has a policy on responsible investing. EDC has adopted—