The Bloc Québécois is urging Mark Carney’s administration to uphold a Liberal promise of taking stronger actions to ensure that Canadian supply chains are free from forced or child labor. In a move to address this issue, Bloc Québécois MP Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay introduced a bill on Tuesday that proposes allowing the Council of Ministers to identify regions of concern globally.
Under the bill, if a product originates from a flagged region, Canadian customs would automatically block its entry unless the exporter can prove that no forced or child labor was involved in its production. This shift aims to shift the burden of proof from customs officers to exporters, drawing inspiration from similar American regulations.
Yves-François Blanchet, the party leader of Bloc Québécois, expressed confidence in the legislation’s potential to garner bipartisan support in the Commons, including from the ruling Liberals. The party emphasizes the need for concrete actions rather than mere promises, citing concerns about the delay in actualizing commitments to clean up supply chains.
The push for tighter regulations on forced labor in supply chains is not entirely new, with past efforts like Bill S-211 addressing reporting requirements for federal entities. However, the Bloc Québécois believes that more stringent measures are necessary, such as implementing region-specific bans on goods linked to forced labor.
The Liberals’ pledge to address forced labor in supply chains has been a recurring theme in economic statements and budgets, dating back to the Trudeau administration. As the current government under Carney faces calls to expedite the Bloc’s bill, the spotlight is on their commitment to combatting forced labor within Canadian supply chains.
