Key Takeaways
- Canada established the Office of the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE) in 2019 to investigate overseas human‑rights abuses linked to Canadian corporations, especially in mining, garment, and oil‑and‑gas sectors.
- The office remained without a permanent leader for over a year after April 2024, handling at least 24 active complaints but completing few investigations.
- Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the elimination of CORE, claiming it was ineffective after only one investigation in seven years, a decision not publicly disclosed beforehand.
- Human‑rights NGOs, affected communities, and UN experts condemned the closure as a setback for corporate accountability and a favor to Canadian multinationals.
- Critics argue the move contradicts prior statements by Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand that the office “remains important” and ignores UN recommendations to strengthen the ombudsperson’s mandate.
- Complainants—such as those from Balochistan and Namibia—report feeling betrayed after investing years and personal risk into cases that now lack resolution.
- The government says CORE’s functions will be merged into other mechanisms like the National Contact Point, but activists demand the office be reinstated with full investigative powers.
Background and Creation of CORE
In 2019 the Canadian government launched the Office of the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE) to oversee allegations of human‑rights abuses by Canadian companies operating abroad. The mandate initially covered the garment, mining, and oil‑and‑gas industries, responding to long‑standing civil‑society calls for greater corporate accountability. CORE was intended to receive complaints, conduct preliminary assessments, and, where warranted, launch full investigations into alleged violations such as forced labor, environmental damage, and community harm.
Leadership Vacancy and Operational Limits
Although CORE began accepting complaints shortly after its inception, the office struggled with leadership continuity. After the departure of its first permanent Ombudsperson, the role remained vacant for extended periods. An interim Ombudsperson served from April 2024 until May 20, 2025, after which the position sat empty again. This vacancy hampered the office’s ability to move beyond intake, leaving many complaints in limbo despite the existence of at least 24 active cases reported by Mongabay in early 2025.
Prime Minister Carney’s Announcement
In a June 11 press conference, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that his government had eliminated CORE months earlier, asserting the agency was ineffective after conducting only a single investigation in seven years. The decision was not accompanied by a public statement at the time it was made, and three weeks prior officials had still been answering Mongabay’s queries about ongoing investigations. The abrupt closure surprised observers who had expected the office to be strengthened rather than abolished.
Immediate Reaction from Human‑Rights Groups
The announcement provoked sharp criticism from NGOs, activists, and affected communities worldwide. Catherine Coumans of Mining Watch Canada labelled the move a “deliberate favor to Canadian multinationals” aimed at shielding them from human‑rights claims. The Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability expressed shock, noting that the government had failed to inform those directly impacted—people who had risked personal security to file complaints—about the shutdown.
Voices from the Affected Communities
Individual complainants described feeling betrayed after investing years of effort and personal danger into their cases. Lateef Johar, who filed a complaint in January 2023 against Barrick Mining’s Reko Diq project in Balochistan, Pakistan, said he received no warning that CORE was closing and had spent over four years on the petition. Similarly, Nabila Khan of the International Human Rights Program at the University of Toronto reported that Namibian communities represented by Saving Okavango’s Unique Life (SOUL) had waited two years for a response to their complaint against ReconAfrica, only to learn the office had been dismantled without notice.
UN and Governmental Perspectives
The closure runs counter to recent international guidance. In its April 2025 periodic review of Canada, the United Nations Human Rights Committee urged Ottawa to urgently appoint a new ombudsperson and bolster the office’s investigative powers, citing ongoing allegations of abuses by Canadian‑headquartered firms. Contrastingly, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand had only months earlier affirmed that “the office remains important,” highlighting a clear policy reversal that critics say undermines Canada’s commitment to responsible business conduct abroad.
Government Justification and Future Plans
Global Affairs Canada defended the elimination by stating that CORE’s work would be “streamlined” into other mechanisms with stronger track records, specifically referencing the National Contact Point (NCP) for the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. Officials argued that integrating the ombudsperson’s functions into existing structures would improve effectiveness. However, activists contend that the NCP lacks the independence and investigative authority needed to address complex human‑rights allegations, and they demand the reinstatement of CORE with enhanced powers such as the ability to compel testimony and obtain documents.
Ongoing Concerns and Calls for Action
Despite the government’s stance, the issue remains contentious. Mongabay’s inquiries in April and May 2025 revealed that CORE’s webpage still listed contacts for prospective complainants, suggesting a lack of clear communication about the office’s status. Advocacy groups continue to press for a reversal of the decision, the appointment of a permanent, independent Ombudsperson, and the strengthening of the office’s mandate to ensure Canadian corporations can be held accountable for overseas harm. Until such steps are taken, many affected communities face continued uncertainty and the prospect that their grievances will go unaddressed.