Development and Peace members, who have collected almost half a million action card signatures and who have held over 120 meetings with MPs during the last three years, can be proud.

“However, it is imperative we do not let down our guard now," said Claire Doran, Director, Education, Development and Peace, "The battle to introduce this unprecedented accountability mechanism in Ottawa for Canadian mining, oil and gas companies operating internationally is not over."

Development and Peace is urging all its members to continue the dialogue with their MPs by reminding them Canadians want to see this bill enacted, especially those whose MPs are serving on the Standing Committee for Foreign Affairs and International Development.

Through its 'Life before Profit' campaign, Development and Peace has consistently called on the Canadian government to regulate the activities of Canadian mining, oil and gas companies operating overseas, in recognition of the fact that host countries often fail, mostly through lack of resources, to ensure the responsible operations of such companies. 

However, the recent, long awaited and lukewarm response from the Canadian Conservative government to the March 2007 multi-stakeholder 'Report on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the Canadian Extractive Industries in Developing Countries' is evidence that the government has wasted two years and is not serious about assuring corporate responsibility overseas.

"The CSR Counsellor position the government created, instead of the Report`s recommended position of Ombudsman, is token at best since it does not require compliance with CSR standards, have a complaints procedure and does not include any possible form of sanction," said Love St-Fleur, Advocacy Officer, Development and Peace.

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