June 12, 2026 — The Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability (CNCA) strongly denounces the Government of Canada’s recent decision to eliminate the Office of the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE). In our view, this represents an abandonment of basic human rights principles, leaving communities and workers who allege serious human rights abuse by Canadian companies at significant risk of further harm.
During a press conference, Prime Minister Carney justified the government’s decision by pointing to criticism of the CORE’s ineffectiveness, a concern raised by Canadian civil society groups since the earliest days of the office. Yet the solution has always been to reinforce the office, not eliminate it.
When the CORE was first created, the government announced it would have much-needed independent investigatory powers, as human rights groups and tens of thousands of individual Canadians across the country advocated for. These commitments were abandoned soon after, and the office was later left to languish for over two years without a permanent leader. It appears the CORE was always set up to fail.
We are also shocked to learn that the government made this decision “months ago”. To our knowledge, this decision was never communicated to the scores of communities and workers who assumed great personal risk to trust the CORE with allegations of human rights abuse linked to Canadian companies, sometimes at the direct encouragement of Canadian government officials. The government’s failure to notify directly-impacted people represents a callous disregard for human life and basic transparency, and is a betrayal of the government’s stated commitment to “Canadian values”. We condemn this in the strongest possible terms.
In comments to the media, the Prime Minister suggested the functions of the CORE will be replaced by new legislation on forced labour, tabled today following threats of new tariffs by U.S. President Donald Trump. We look forward to reviewing the legislation in detail but we note, with deep concern, that this legislation in no way does so. The CORE was mandated to investigate all human rights abuses and provide pathways to remedy, while the forthcoming legislation appears to have neither function. Failure to ensure accountability for all human rights abuses contravenes Canada’s international human rights obligations.
Notes to editors:
- In late March 2026, multiple cabinet ministers publicly indicated the CORE was part of Canada’s approach to meeting its international human rights obligations. Foreign Affairs Minister Minister Anand told the Globe and Mail that the office is “important” and indicated the government is looking to fill the position, while Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne cited the CORE as evidence of Canada’s commitment to fighting forced labour.
- Various UN human rights bodies welcomed the creation of the CORE and called for its strengthening. In March 2026, the UN Human Rights Committee “underscored its concern about allegations of human rights abuses and environmental harm linked to companies domiciled in Canada or operating under its jurisdiction” while urging the Canadian government to empower the CORE.
For media inquiries please contact:
Aidan Gilchrist-Blackwood, Network Coordinator, Canadian Network for Corporate Accountability
agilchristblackwood@cnca-rcrce.ca
1-438-872-0401
