In recent years, Canada has positioned itself as a global advocate for human rights, with various national and international frameworks dedicated to protecting human rights defenders (HRDs). However, mounting concerns over the effectiveness and strength of these protections have prompted close scrutiny from advocacy groups, civil society, and international observers.
Central to this ongoing debate is the role and future of the CORE (Canada’s Office of the Responsible Enterprise) mechanism, which, since its inception, has aimed to oversee and enforce the accountability of Canadian extractive and apparel companies operating abroad concerning human rights abuses. As of October 2025, PBI-Canada remains actively attentive to whether the CORE will be strengthened to adequately protect HRDs, particularly those facing criminalization, surveillance, and harassment.
Context and Stakeholder Statements
PBI-Canada’s vigilance on this issue stems from recent developments regarding the criminalization of Indigenous land defenders and the broader concerns surrounding corporate accountability and state protection mechanisms. During 2021, the RCMP conducted raids on Wet’suwet’en territories protesting the Coastal GasLink pipeline. The fallout from this event, which saw criminal charges against Indigenous defenders, has attracted international attention and advocacy, highlighting the need for stronger protective measures.
Brent Patterson, the coordinator of PBI-Canada, emphasized this concern:
“PBI-Canada remains attentive to whether the CORE will be strengthened to protect human rights defenders,”
highlighting the ongoing risk faced by defenders in Canada and the importance of systemic safeguards. Moreover, Canadian civil society actors have publicly called for reforms to the current legal frameworks, emphasizing that the effectiveness of the CORE and related mechanisms must be enhanced to prevent abuses and ensure accountability.
The Role and Limitations of the CORE
Canada’s Office of the Responsible Enterprise (CORE), established to scrutinize Canadian corporate activities abroad, has faced criticism for its limited investigative powers and perceived ineffectiveness in stopping human rights abuses linked to Canadian companies. The first comprehensive report released by the CORE in March 2025 detailed complaints against extractive industries and apparel companies, scrutinizing their supply chains for forced labor, environmental degradation, and community displacement.
Despite these efforts, reports and UN critiques disclose that the CORE lacks robust investigatory authority, which hampers its ability to enforce accountability effectively. The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, during a July visit, urged the Canadian government to strengthen regulation and oversight of Canadian extractive companies operating abroad. Additionally, the rapporteur condemned the federal government for failing to grant the CORE strong investigative powers necessary to hold companies accountable and address allegations of systemic human rights violations.
In response, the Canadian government announced plans to assess the effectiveness of the CORE’s operations and promised further reforms, driven partly by rising international pressure and domestic advocacy. The assessment aims to determine whether the agency’s powers adequately align with international standards and whether protections for HRDs are strengthened through legislative or procedural reforms.
International Support and Canada’s Role
Canada’s international engagement in human rights protections extends beyond domestic measures. Canada has committed significant financial support to global human rights initiatives, including funding to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and UN agencies like UNFPA, which advocates for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). However, experts warn that global systemic issues—such as the financial crisis within the UN Human Rights Council—pose risks to the efficacy of these mechanisms.
Under current pressures, including austerity measures and budget cuts, UN’s capacity to monitor and respond to violations is diminished. The UN special rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery highlighted that Canada must increase its core contributions to UN human rights bodies to at least $20 million to counter these systemic weaknesses. This funding is vital because the ineffective capacity of UN monitors directly impacts the safety and protection of HRDs worldwide, including those in Canada and their counterparts abroad.
Canada’s Commitments and Policy Initiatives
The Canadian government has articulated its commitment to human rights through various policy initiatives and guidelines. The Guidelines on Supporting Human Rights Defenders explicitly emphasize Canada’s dedication to fostering respect for and protection of HRDs through ongoing engagement and advocacy. Moreover, recent actions such as the launch of the Standing Table on Human Rights by Minister Joly aim to create platforms where civil society and human rights advocates can engage with government officials to influence policy and ensure stronger protections.
Additionally, Canada’s Departmental Plans for 2025-26 include commitments to improve mechanisms for filing and resolving complaints related to human rights violations, under the authority of the Canadian Human Rights Act, Pay Equity Act, and Accessible Canada Act. These measures aim to bolster the domestic infrastructure that supports HRDs, but critics argue that concrete legislative reforms are still needed, especially regarding oversight of law enforcement agencies involved in immigration detention and other areas of human rights concern.
Challenges and the Road Ahead
Despite Canada’s proclaimed support, significant challenges remain. For example, the lack of independent civilian oversight of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)—which has been criticized for rights violations, including indefinite detention, family separation, and the shackling of detainees—illustrates ongoing systemic flaws.
On the corporate accountability front, the passage of Bill S-211 in January 2024 marked a step forward but falls short of the comprehensive due diligence obligations demanded by human rights advocates. The bill requires public reporting on forced labor but does not mandate companies to exercise due diligence to prevent abuses proactively, nor does it empower communities to seek remedies effectively.
Moreover, the international community’s ability to address Canada’s domestic human rights issues is compromised by declining funding and political will, which underscores the critical importance of systemic reform both domestically and globally.
The ongoing debate about whether the CORE will be strengthened in Canada encapsulates broader concerns about the protection and empowerment of human rights defenders at home and abroad. While Canada has made notable commitments, including the launch of initiatives such as the Standing Table on Human Rights and ongoing assessments of the CORE’s efficacy, substantial reforms are still critical. Strengthening investigative powers, legislative protections, and funding are necessary to ensure that defenders can operate safely without fear of criminalization, surveillance, or harassment.
