S-211Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act
An Act to enact the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act and to amend the Customs Tariff
Senate public bill, introduced in the Senate on November 24, 2021
- Status
- Became law on May 11, 2023 · S.C. 2023, c. 9
- Sponsor
- Julie Miville-DechêneSenator
- Senator
What it does
Requires certain government bodies and businesses to report on forced labour and child labour risks in their supply chains, and updates customs rules for affected goods.
What it does
- Requires certain government institutions to file annual public reports on the steps they took to prevent and reduce forced labour or child labour in goods they produce, buy, or distribute.
- Requires covered businesses and importers to file annual reports, approved by their governing bodies, on steps taken to prevent and reduce the risk of forced labour or child labour in their goods and supply chains.
- Gives the Minister of Public Safety power to set report forms, require information, designate inspectors, and order corrective measures when reporting rules are not met.
- Allows inspectors to enter places, review documents and data, take copies and photos, and seek a warrant before entering a dwelling-house for inspection purposes.
- Creates offences for failing to report, blocking an inspection, or making false statements, with fines of up to $250,000, and requires a public registry and annual report to Parliament.
- Amends the Customs Tariff to allow goods mined, made, or produced wholly or partly by forced labour or child labour to be excluded from certain tariff items.
Who it affects
- Government institutions
- Covered businesses
- Importers
- Federal corporations
- Customs officials
- Members of corporate boards
Background
The bill says it is meant to help Canada meet an international commitment to fight forced labour and child labour. It also changes the Customs Tariff to deal with goods covered by the new definitions.
Where it is
Senate
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Completed.
Committee
Completed.
Report stage
Completed.
Third reading
Completed.
House of Commons
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Completed.
Committee
Completed.
Report stage
Completed.
Third reading
Completed.
Royal assent
Royal assent
Completed.
Introduced by a senator. If the Senate passes it, it goes to the House of Commons, where an MP must agree to sponsor it. How a bill becomes law
How the House voted
3rd reading and adoption of 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
Vote 310,
Passed
271 yeato57 nay
Party breakdown for vote 310 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 152 0 4 Conservative Yea 115 0 0 Bloc Nay 0 31 1 NDP Nay 0 25 0 Green Split evenly 1 1 0 Independent Yea 3 0 0 Total 271 57 2nd reading of 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
Vote 113,
Passed
327 yeato0 nay
Party breakdown for vote 113 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 154 0 5 Conservative Yea 117 0 2 Bloc Yea 29 0 3 NDP Yea 24 0 1 Green Yea 2 0 0 Independent Yea 1 0 0 Total 327 0
What MPs said
Each party’s first speech on this bill in the House, from Hansard. Excerpts are the speaker’s opening sentences, unedited.
LiberalJohn McKay· May 18, 2022
“The assumption of this bill is that different consumption choices would be made if there was a readily available source of knowledge. Neither I nor anybody else wishes to be the unwitting supporters of slavery.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caConservativeGarnett Genuis· May 18, 2022
“I think it is important that we try to allow debate to collapse today so that the bill can move forward to committee and we can begin the work of studying it at committee and proposing constructive amendments.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caBlocAlexis Brunelle-Duceppe· May 18, 2022
“The bill we are debating sets out what we need to do to make our supply chains more ethical and to rid them of the scourge of forced labour and child labour. Not many members in the House had to listen to testimony from Uighurs who fled China.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caNDPHeather McPherson· May 18, 2022
“As it stands now, Bill S-211 needs to be revised so that it actually can help prevent forced and child labour rather than simply act as a diversion. Members may think that I am speaking cynically.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.ca
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: Royal assent received. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.