C-263Responsible Business Conduct Abroad Act
An Act to establish the Office of the Commissioner for Responsible Business Conduct Abroad and to make consequential amendments to other Acts
Private member's bill, introduced in the House of Commons on March 29, 2022
- Status
- At second reading in the House of Commons since March 29, 2022
What it does
Creates a new commissioner to monitor and investigate Canadian business conduct abroad and report on compliance with international human rights law.
What it does
- Creates the Office of the Commissioner for Responsible Business Conduct Abroad and gives the commissioner a five-year term, staff, and deputy head powers.
- Applies to Canadian entities that operate abroad, import goods made abroad, provide services abroad, or control those entities.
- Lets any person complain about the international human rights impact of an entity’s business activities abroad, and lets complainants ask for their identity to stay secret.
- Authorizes the commissioner to investigate on a complaint or on their own initiative, if there are reasonable grounds to think an entity may not respect international human rights law.
- Requires the commissioner to publish reports with findings and may recommend compensation, apologies, policy changes, and federal steps such as withdrawing trade advocacy support or Export Development Canada support.
- Creates offences for obstructing an investigation or giving false or misleading information, with fines of up to $250,000; also requires annual reports, special reports, and a five-year parliamentary review.
Who it affects
- Canadian entities operating abroad
- Importers of foreign-made goods
- Canadian businesses with overseas services
- People filing complaints
- Foreign Affairs and trade agencies
- Export Development Canada
Background
The bill would replace the current Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise role with a new commissioner. The person holding that office when the change starts would stay in office until the end of their term.
Where it is
House of Commons
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Current stage. Now here
Committee
Not reached.
Report stage
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Senate
First reading
Not reached.
Second reading
Not reached.
Committee
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Royal assent
Royal assent
Not reached.
Introduced by an MP who is not a minister. These bills compete in a lottery for debate time, and most do not become law. How a bill becomes law
How the House voted
No recorded votes yet
What MPs said
Each party’s first speech on this bill in the House, from Hansard. Excerpts are the speaker’s opening sentences, unedited.
NDPHeather McPherson· March 29, 2022
“Moved for leave to introduce Bill C-263, An Act to establish the Office of the Commissioner for Responsible Business Conduct Abroad and to make consequential amendments to other Acts. It is my honour to stand here today and table my private member's legislation, the responsible business conduct abroad bill.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.ca
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: Outside the Order of Precedence. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.