Canada has a National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking. By Natasha Henry. Although it may be hard to believe that this cruel reality exists in 2019, modern slavery-an umbrella term that includes practices such as slavery, child labour, debt bondage labour, forced labour, and human trafficked labour- is a disturbing reminder of the tragic situation that may be present within many Canadian businesses, potentially reaching all the way to the very beginning of their supply chains. Many authors and historians use both sets of terms, which have similar meanings but can represent different perspectives on historical events. This presents an opportunity for an organization’s supply chain and human resources professionals to work together to understand the laws of all jurisdictions in which they operate and the interplay between those laws and to proactively address potential legislative compliance obligations in the future. modern slavery • Only 29 % of companies are actively looking beyond their first tier of suppliers – despite modern slavery often lurking in the lower tiers of global supply chains • 94% of companies feel positive (65%) or neutral (29%) about the Government of Canada’s announcement to initiate consultation ... "They keep blaming America for slavery, but the truth is that throughout human history slavery has existed. Many Canadian businesses operating in those jurisdictions are already required to make such disclosure. Given the novelty of the bill in Canada and the high stakes of failing to comply with its reporting requirements, one might wonder about the need for such legislation… First and foremost, Canadian companies are already reporting under the UK Modern Slavery Act, given that the reporting requirement extends to companies carrying on business in the United Kingdom. In response to the October 2018 House of Commons Committee report, the Government of Canada announced in early 2019 that it will "begin a process …to consult on possible supply chain legislation," adding Canada to a growing list of countries taking action to address this issue. Please see our, A Call To Action: Ending The Use of All Forms of Child Labour in Supply Chains. This statement is made on behalf of Royal Bank of Canada (“the Bank”) and a number of its subsidiaries 1 (collectively “RBC… However, since its introduction, Bill C-423 has not proceeded any further through the parliamentary process; and, on September 11, 2019, the current Parliament was dissolved in preparation for the upcoming federal election on October 21, 2019. Penalties for non-compliance were proposed to be in the form of fines of not more than $250,000 per offence. Gowling WLG is an international law firm comprising the members of Gowling WLG International Limited, an English Company Limited by Guarantee, and their respective affiliates. The most common are: 1. US & Canada; Should black Americans get slavery reparations? Navigate the tides of digital disruption, How will Brexit affect your business? Any work or services people are forced to do against their will under threat of punishment. Now is the time for Canadian companies to "do diligence" on their supply chains, The Real Brokerage closes US$20 million strategic investment by Insight Partners. Slavery in Western Canada. Bill S-216: An Act to enact the Modern Slavery Act and to amend the Customs Tariff (Bill), was recently introduced in the Canadian Senate and aims to implement Canada's international commitments to contribute to the fight against modern slavery, with a focus on forced labour and child labour. 8 It is a noun that critics of the term say reduces a person to a position they never chose to be in. The film provides a shocking but realistic depiction of American slavery. Extreme poverty has fallen below 10 per cent of the world’s population for the first time. Each member and affiliate is an autonomous and independent entity. The world’s most widespre… Forced labour. This article provides only general information about legal issues and developments, and is not intended to provide specific legal advice. slavery across Canada Life International’s operations and supply chains, and the next steps planned for the current financial year and beyond. © 2020 Gowling WLG International Limited. This series will shed light on this evolving area, while helping CEO's and directors fulfil their obligations to regulators, shareholders and other stakeholders. Canada's largest trading partner, the United States, now bans the import of slave-made and forced labour-made goods and companies wishing to do business with the US Government must certify that they are not using forced or human–trafficked labour in their operations and supply chains. World Vision Canada reported in 2017 that $34 billion of goods imported in to Canada each year may have been produced by child or forced labour. Slavery today takes many different forms, including human trafficking, forced labour, debt bondage, forced marriage and others. Canada has begun resettling hundreds of people rescued from slavery in Libya, Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen says. This statement is made pursuant to s.54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and sets out the steps that the MIP Inc. Group of companies (“MIP”) has taken and will continue to take to ensure that modern slavery or human trafficking does not take place within its business or supply chain. In 2017, the Global Slavery Index listed Eritrea, Burundi, the Central African Republic, Mauritania, and South Sudan on its list of the 10 countries with the highest prevalance of slavery. According to the International Labour Organization, as many as 25 million people are suffering in forced labour and as many as 152 million children are victims of child labour - 73 million of whom are engaged in hazardous work. The use of violence, threats or coercion to transport, recruit or harbour people in order to exploit them for purposes such as forced prostitution, labour, criminality, marriage or organ removal. Despite the magnitude and severity of this issue and Canada's global reputation as a country committed to freedom and social justice, Canada is an outlier in addressing modern slavery compared to most of its biggest trading partners. 20/12/2019 ~ wpgman. It is based on the life of Solomon Northrup, a free man, who was kidnapped from his hometown in New York and sold south into slavery. Slavery is Canada's best-kept secret Canada has burnished its reputation as the terminal station of the Underground Railroad, a safe haven for runaway slaves. Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen said in … DLA Piper is a global law firm with lawyers located in more than 40 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, positioning us to help clients with their legal needs around the world. Oct 18, 2019 10:00 am By Hugh Fitzgerald. (CNN) Canada has announced it will take in 750 refugees from Libya, some rescued from migrant detention centers. The scope of application was proposed to be limited to entities listed on a stock exchange in Canada or with at least $20 million in assets or generating at least $40 million in annual revenue or employing an average of at least 250 employees. Insights for Canadian CEOs and directors addressing modern slavery in their businesses and supply chains. The 2019 theme for the commemoration, “Remember Slavery: The Power of the Arts for Justice”, aims to recognize the importance of art in confronting slavery, to … For example, slave is used to describe a person’s property. How long will Canada and its lawmakers wait to address modern slavery? There is debate about the terms enslavement and enslaved people, on one hand, and slavery and slaves on the other. It is a noun that critics of the term say reduces a person to a position they never chose to be in. Legislation in the UK, the State of California and most recently, Australia, compel such disclosure. The term enslaved describes the state of being held as a slave. Historians who prefer enslaved person e… Gowling WLG International Limited promotes, facilitates and co-ordinates the activities of its members but does not itself provide services to clients. The Bill also contemplated powers for inspection and investigations, the ability for the government to issue orders for compliance, and the ability for the government to prohibit importation of product into Canada in situations where its production has been in violation of the Modern Slavery Act. Companies to which these laws apply must post online or file an annual statement detailing what efforts (if any) they have taken to ensure that modern slavery is not taking place in their businesses or in their supply chains. Attorney advertising. This article provides only general information about legal issues and developments, and is not intended to provide specific legal advice. Bill C-423 was proposed by John MacKay, a Member of Parliament affiliated with the Liberal Party, which held a majority in Parliament when the Bill was introduced. ... March 19, 2019… Toronto, Sign up to receive insights on the latest legal changes and developments. Our site provides a full range of global and local information. Historians who prefer enslaved person e… This statement is made on behalf of Norton Rose Fulbright LLP and Norton Rose Fulbright Services (together, the Firm) pursuant to section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (the Act) and constitutes our slavery and human trafficking statement for the financial year ending 30 April 2019. In line with internationally accepted best practices, outlined in the Trafficking Protocol, Canada ... Modern Slavery Statement 2019/20 Our Vision To give every child the best start in life Our Mission Deliver high quality childcare and Although it may be hard to believe that this cruel reality exists in 2019, modern slavery-an umbrella term that includes practices such as slavery, child labour, debt bondage labour, forced labour, and human trafficked labour- is a disturbing reminder of the tragic situation that may be present within many Canadian businesses, potentially reaching all the way to the very beginning of their supply chains. Not much longer as you will see in our next article: What action will Canada take and how will it impact Canadian businesses? Let nobody tell you that the second decade of the 21st century has been a bad time. What is digital transformation? For further information about these entities and DLA Piper's structure, please refer to the Legal Notices page of this website. The UK and Australian laws require these annual statements to be approved by the company's board of directors and signed by a director. The introduction of this legislation aligns with a broader trend of ESG focus on, and … As of July 2019, thirty-five Canadian companieshave released modern slavery statements, including companies that are often in the public di… The law freed enslaved people aged 25 and over and made it illegal to bring enslaved people into Upper Canada. 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