CANADA Law and Practice Contributed by: Claudia Feldkamp and Chris Pigott, Fasken
Strategy” ), a five-year strategy (2022–27) that sets out the Canadian government’s expecta - tions of Canadian companies operating global - ly. Pursuant to the 2022 RBC Strategy, Canada expressly recognises the importance of legisla - tion that targets certain areas, including supply chain transparency and supply chain due dili - gence. Further legislative activity in the area of business and human rights is anticipated in Canada. International human rights law, including interna - tional human rights treaties signed and ratified by states, underpin and inform the principles of business and human rights – along with the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights. As a member of the international community com - mitted to the protection of human rights, Can - ada has ratified or signed several international human rights treaties, conventions and multilat - eral agreements related to human rights. 2. Legal Framework 2.1 International In addition to supporting the principles outlined in the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Canada has ratified the seven principal UN human rights conventions and covenants, including the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimina - tion and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. In signing or ratifying core human rights treaties overseen by the UN, Can - ada is accountable to the UN and to other mem - ber states thereof when it comes to upholding and protecting human rights. In 2019, Canada became a state party to the UN Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). In 2021, Canada also implemented
the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Canada has signed and ratified nine of the ten International Labour Organization (ILO) Funda - mental Conventions. Canada also adheres to international guidelines that promote business and human rights, including the UNGPs, the OECD Guidelines on Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct (the “OECD Guidelines” ), and the ILO’s Tripartite Declaration of Principles Concerning Multinational Enterpris - es and Social Policy (the “MNE Declaration” ), which sets out guidelines for businesses on labour practices (eg, safe working conditions and the elimination of forced labour). Canada has adopted the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are designed to advance corporate sustainability internation - ally and which include the principles of inclusive development and access to remedy. In line with these commitments, Canada continues to adopt voluntary and mandatory measures to set out expectations and legal requirements for corpo - rate conduct globally. 2.2 National and Regional 2.2.1 National Action Plan The Canadian government has not yet devel - oped a national action plan (NAP) on business and human rights as contemplated and encour - aged by the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights. In 2022, Canada introduced the 2022 RBC Strat - egy, a five-year strategy that contains measures to support Canadian companies in integrating leading responsible business practices and to position Canada to advance policies and prac - tices within the international responsible busi -
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