October 18, 2005 (2:50 p.m. EDT)
No. 188

CANADA COMMITTED TO CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew today made public the tabling of the Government of Canada’s response to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade report Mining in Developing Countries—Corporate Social Responsibility.

“The government welcomes the committee’s report and believes the response not only highlights existing policy on corporate social responsibility, but also underlines our commitment to sustainable development,” said Minister Pettigrew. “Building on the work of the committee, the government will organize a series of round tables to further examine the issues raised in the report.”

Canada works multilaterally and with stakeholders to develop and advance corporate social responsibility standards, such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.

Canada is committed to working with stakeholders to ensure that Canadian companies have the necessary knowledge, support and incentives to conduct their activities abroad in a socially and environmentally sustainable manner.

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

Sébastien Théberge
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851

Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs Canada
(613) 995-1874
http://www.international.gc.ca