Activities

Hidden in Plain Sight: Forced Labour in Canada

June 2, 2022

The APPG hosted a virtual event for Parliamentarians and their staff on the topic of forced labour in Canada. Our guests included Varka Kalaydzhieva and Shelley Gilbert representing the Canadian Council for Refugees anti-trafficking committee and forced labour survivor and now public speaker, Tamas Miko.

Bill S-211 Adopted at Second Reading

June 1, 2022

APPG co-chair Senator Julie Miville-Dêchene’s Bill S-211, Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act, was sponsored by APPG co-chair MP McKay in the House of Commons. It was adopted at second reading on June 1, 2022. It will be studied at the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development in the Fall of 2022. It is one step closer to becoming law – closer than supply chain legislation has ever come before in Canada!

Annual General Meeting

May 3, 2022

Members of the All Party Group to End Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking heard from Jennie Coleman, Canada’s leading fairtrade banana importer, Equifruit.

She showed her support for the APPG’s work and urged us all to support Bill S-211, which she believes is the first step in reducing forced labour found in the supply chains of Canadian imports.

National Human Trafficking Awareness Day in House of Commons

February 18, 2022

For three years the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) to End Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking urged Parliament to recognize February 22 as National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. On February 15, 2021 the House of Commons finally adopted this.

APPG co-chairs MP Viersen and MP McKay both made statements in the House of Commons to draw attention to the second annual National Human Trafficking Awareness Day.

National Human Trafficking Awareness Day

February 22, 2022

The APPG co-chairs created an English and French video commemorating the day and shared educational graphics for Parliamentarians and all Canadians to use.

International Day for the Abolition of Slavery: Virtual Event

December 2, 2021

As part of the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery on December 2nd, the APPG to End Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking was pleased to host a virtual briefing on the need for supply chain legislation in Canada for Senators, MPs, and their staff.
Presentations were provided by Stephen Pike, partner at Gowling WLG and co-leader of the firm’s Canadian ESG Advisory Services practice, and Chris Crewthers, Head of Strategic Partnerships at the Global Fund to End Modern Slavery, followed by a Q & A session. There were 48 parliamentarians and staff in attendance from all political parties.

Tabling of Bill S-211

November 22, 2021

On November 22, 2021, Senator Julie Miville-Dêchene tabled Bill S-211, An Act to enact the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act and to amend the Customs Tariff, in the Senate. The Co-Chairs will continue to advocate for the adoption of Bill S-211. Click here to learn more about Bill S-211 and the APPG’s efforts to pass supply chain legislation in Canada to combat forced labour and child labour.

McCain Institute Human Rights & Democracy Summit

December 7, 2021

APPG co-chair Senator Miville-Dechêne spoke at the McCain Institute Human Rights & Democracy Summit about the reality of forced labour, the work of the APPG and Bill S-211, Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act.