Protesters gather against a Canadian mining company in the Dominican Republic.
(Photo: J. Cafio/CJI)

For over 5 years, CJI has been working with the Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability (CNCA) to advocate for an independent watchdog that would effectively investigate human rights abuses by Canadian corporations overseas. On March 15, the office of the CORE officially opened. However, it is not the office that the Government of Canada had promised: it is not independent of government and industry; and the ombudsperson does not have the power to compel witnesses and documents. In its current incarnation, the effectiveness of the CORE will be dependent on the cooperation of the complainant and the entity being investigated.

CJI and CNCA continue to campaign to empower the CORE. To learn more and to take action, please visit https://cnca-rcrce.ca/campaigns/ombuds-power2investigate/