Canada-China Relations committee  Yes, there has to be some evidence of three things. First of all, it's some evidence, because we're not looking at the merits. Actually, we don't look at the merits until after the initial assessment. There has to be some evidence that it is a Canadian company. We ask a lot of

Canada-China Relations committee  It depends on what you mean by “active”. With regard to supply chains in China—

Canada-China Relations committee  —as I said, when we did our report and we interviewed 10 Canadian garment companies, all of them had supply chains in China.

Canada-China Relations committee  That wasn't determined. That was just information we received from companies, so we don't know that. That's what our complaints are looking at. With the 13 complaints we have, we will be looking at the allegation that they are benefiting from forced labour. When we do our investi

Canada-China Relations committee  The allegation is that this has occurred, but I can't comment on that. I haven't completed our investigation.

Canada-China Relations committee  In terms of an ombud office created under the United Nations “Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights”, article 27, where they recommend that states create non-judicial mechanisms to look at corporate behaviour across boundaries, we are the only one that I'm aware of. No

Canada-China Relations committee  Our points of reference are the United Nations “Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights” and the “OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises”. It's particularly that first document, the UN's guiding principles. In there, they talk very specifically about the need for h

Canada-China Relations committee  We have a five-step process. The first one is this: Someone reaches out to our office. We do an intake session with them to find out whether it's admissible and a human right.... We ask them a lot of questions. If I find that the allegation is admissible and something we shoul

Canada-China Relations committee  Fifteen is the total number of cases that we have found admissible and that we are reviewing.

Canada-China Relations committee  The honourable member is correct.

Canada-China Relations committee  Currently, that is correct.

Canada-China Relations committee  I go only by what the previous panel said, and I noted in that testimony that when someone refused to sign that declaration, they were not provided with trade services.

Canada-China Relations committee  No. We would follow up only if we received a complaint.

Canada-China Relations committee  As I said, yes, I think the government would benefit from mandatory human rights due diligence. With that implemented, with consequences, that would allow the Canadian government to influence or punish corporate behaviour, so influence good behaviour, punish bad behaviour. You w

Canada-China Relations committee  The CORE's budget is around $4.9 million.