Hon. Julie Miville-Dechêne: Senator Moreau, the Department of Public Safety is responsible for implementing the law on forced labour in our supply chains, a law that I sponsored and that has been in force since 2024. A few days ago, however, researchers from the University of British Columbia and McMaster University publicly criticized the weak guidelines that this department issued to companies. The companies’ reports contain extremely vague descriptions of their alleged efforts to weed out forced labour, and their filings scored an average of 36% on specificity. Will you be issuing stricter guidelines to improve transparency?

Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): Senator Miville-Dechêne, the Minister of Public Safety was with us yesterday for Question Period.

Senator Miville-Dechêne: I didn’t have time to ask any questions.

Senator Moreau: I know, and I’m not criticizing you. I’m simply saying that I can’t speak to what the intentions might be or what measures might be taken. The minister would have been in a better position than I am to speak to that.

However, I must point out that, in the same study you cited, it’s worth noting that 100% of the companies that were analyzed had implemented accountability policies regarding forced labour in their supply chains, which is a step forward because companies hadn’t been doing so in the past.

We are well aware that there’s still work to be done. The government remains firmly committed to combatting forced labour and improving the situation with respect to the numbers and statistics you cited.

Senator Miville-Dechêne: Naturally, it’s better to report than not to report.

However, isn’t there some urgency to strengthening these guidelines, considering that the United States suspects Canada of doing too little to fight forced labour at its borders? The law is fundamentally sound and could be used to push back against Washington, but not if its implementation is substandard or if its powers are not used to fine offending companies — which is currently the case, since no penalties have been issued.

Senator Moreau: The government is aware that the U.S. has launched several new investigations under section 301.

Canada disagrees with the U.S. interpretation. The U.S. says that we are not doing enough at the border, but our investments have been unprecedented. We do not agree. Just because the Americans make a statement does not necessarily mean that it’s backed by verified facts.

Canada, Mexico and the U.S. collaborated closely on establishing our respective prohibitions, and we have —

The Hon. the Speaker: Thank you, Senator Moreau.