February 5, 2020 | For Immediate Release
OTTAWA, ON – Today, the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) to End Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking is pleased to announce the introduction of the Modern Slavery Act in the Senate. The legislation will be tabled in the Senate by APPG member Senator Julie Miville-Dechêne. Modern slavery is deeply embedded in Canadian economic supply chains where it is out of sight from companies and consumers. If you have purchased shrimp, shopped for clothes, consumed chocolate, or bought products with lithium batteries then you may have inadvertently supported supply chains tainted with slavery.
The Modern Slavery Act, tabled in the previous Parliament by MP McKay after an extensive parliamentary study on child labour in supply chains, requires companies to report on the measures they are taking to prevent and reduce forced labour or child labour in their supply chains. The Act will also allow for a prohibition on the importation of products that are produced wholly or in part by forced labour or child labour. The adoption of this legislation will help to implement Canada’s international commitment to slave-free supply chains and encourage companies to ensure their supply chains are transparent and free of goods produced by slavery if they wish to do business in Canada. The APPG to End Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking was launched in 2018 and includes members from the Liberal, Conservative, and NDP parties as well as the Independent Senators Group. The activities of the APPG to End Modern Slavery are supported by a partnership with the Allard School of Law’s International Justice and Human Rights Clinic at UBC.
Quotes
“By requiring companies to be more transparent, this bill will give tools to consumers who do not want to contribute to modern slavery. We must stop being complicit in violating the rights of millions of people condemned to forced labour.”
– Senator Julie Miville-Dechêne
“Slavery has not been relegated to history, it is still a scourge in the 21st century and Canadians unwittingly buy products made with slave labour. This bill will ensure that corporations examine their supply chains and certify that slaves had no part in the making of their products.”
– Hon. John McKay, P.C., M.P. for Scarborough-Guildwood, APPG Co-Chair
“Modern day slavery and human trafficking exist in every country of the world including Canada. With over 25 million people around the world trapped in modern day slavery, we have a responsibility to tackle the slavery in our communities and in our supply chains.”
– Arnold Viersen, M.P. for Peace River – Westlock, APPG Co-Chair
“The Modern Slavery Act is a welcome first step towards bringing transparency to Canadian companies’ global supply chains. The next step is for the government to mandate due diligence requirements and effective oversight so the goals of preventing and reducing forced labour and child labour can be realized.”
– Nicole Barrett, Director, International Justice and Human Rights Clinic, Peter A. Allard School of Law, University of British Columbia.
“Willful blindness has gone on long enough. Over 24 million people, including many children, are victims of slavery around the world. If companies are required to provide a report, they will have to reflect on their actions, which is the first step toward accountability, which then sets the stage for going further.”
– Laure Waridel, eco-sociologist, UQAM associate professor, co-founder of Équiterre and author of Acheter c’est voter
Quick Facts:
• About 40 million people are involved in modern slavery. This is more than twice the number involved in the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.
• It is estimated over 1,200 companies operating in Canada are importing goods that have been produced by child or forced labor.
• In 2016, one in 10 children were engaged in some form of child labour.
For more information:
Office of Senator Julie Miville-Dechêne
(514)-212-7042
mylene.alotto@sen.parl.gc.ca
Office of the Hon. John McKay, P.C., M.P.
(613)-992-1447
John.McKay@parl.gc.ca
Office of Arnold Viersen, MP
(613)-996-1783
Arnold.Viersen.a2@parl.gc.ca