Protesters gather against a Canadian mining company in the Dominican Republic.
(Photo: J. Cafio/CJI)
Last January 21-22, CJI attended a Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability (CNCA) strategic planning meeting in Ottawa. Representing CJI were Director, Jenny Cafiso, and Communications Coordinator, Victor Reyes.
The meeting focused on two key issues: the Canadian Ombudsperson Responsible for Enterprise (CORE) and mandatory human rights due diligence (mHRDD). In 2018, the Canadian Government created the office of the CORE but fell short of giving the ombudsperson independent powers to effectively investigate abuses perpetrated by Canadian companies with global operations.
The meeting solidified CNCA’s position in advocating Parliament to give the ombudsperson the necessary powers they need to be effective. The group also acknowledged the lack of human rights due diligence laws in Canada similar to those in the European Union. An e-petition to call on the Canadian Government to act on both the CORE and mHRDD has been scheduled for May. CJI participates in these initiatives to bring the voice of our Jesuit partners in the Global South where communities are affected by Canadian companies.
