SoVote

Bill C-243

44th Parl. 1st Sess.

May 11, 2023

This bill, known as the Ending the Use of Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act, aims to eliminate the use of forced and child labor in supply chains. It requires certain entities, such as corporations, trusts, and partnerships, to report on the measures they have taken to prevent and reduce the risk of forced and child labor in the production of goods in Canada and goods they import into Canada. The Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness has the power to inspect these entities and request information. The bill also amends the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act to ensure that government departments take steps to prevent and reduce forced and child labor in the goods and services they acquire. The Minister of Public Works and Government Services will be required to report annually to Parliament on the measures taken in this regard. Finally, the bill includes an amendment to the Customs Tari

s consent only under the authority of a warrant issued under subsection (2). Warrant requirements (2) A justice may issue a warrant authorizing the designated person to enter a dwelling-house if the justice is satisfied by information on oath or affirmation that (a) the conditions for entry described in subsection 12(1) exist in relation to the dwelling-house; (b) entry is necessary for the purpose referred to in subsection 12(1); and (c) entry has been refused or there are reasonable grounds to believe that it will be refused. Use of force (3) In executing a warrant issued under this section, the designated person may use as much force as is reasonably necessary to execute it. No longer authorized (4) The designated person is not authorized to use force under subsection (3) if (a) they enter the dwelling-house under the authority of the occupant’s consent; or (b) the occupant or any other person present does

The Ending the Use of Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act imposes reporting obligations on certain entities to prevent and reduce the use of forced labour and child labour in the production of goods. However, there are several arguments that can be made against this act. First, the Act places a burden on businesses by requiring them to gather and report information on their supply chains. This can be time-consuming and costly, especially for small businesses. The resources spent on compliance with reporting obligations could be better utilized in other areas such as innovation and growth. Second, enforcing this Act may require increased government intervention and oversight. This can lead to increased bureaucracy and unnecessary interference in the operations of businesses. The government should not impose unnecessary regulations and should instead allow businesses to self-regulate and make voluntary commitments to eli