Canada Releases Two 'What We Heard' Reports on Fighting Forced Labour in Supply Chains
In Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and Jobs and Families Minister Patty Hajdu jointly released two "What We Heard" reports on October 8, summarizing a national consultation held this summer on fighting forced labour. The findings will inform the government's next steps.
The consultations ran from July 21 to August 21, 2026. The first report covers strengthening Canada's forced labour import ban through Bill C-35, which drew broad support from participants. The second covers supply-chain due diligence legislation and civil liability: most participants supported laws requiring entities to identify, prevent, mitigate and report on forced-labour risks in their international operations and supply chains.
Views were divided on whether victims should be able to bring civil lawsuits against companies. The report records differing positions from business, labour organizations, civil society and the legal community.
The reports were published by Employment and Social Development Canada. The government says the feedback will shape upcoming measures, and that Canada will keep coordinating with partner countries to keep goods made with forced labour out of the market.
Source: Employment and Social Development Canada
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 温哥华港集装箱码头。/ The container terminal at the Port of Vancouver. (Photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
