On Monday, April 8, the federal government appointed the CORE but failed to create an independent office with real powers to investigate abuses and redress harms caused by Canadian companies operating abroad, essentially breaking a promise made 15 months ago. Minister Carr announced that he is seeking external legal advice on the possibility of granting the power to compel testimony and evidence and gave early June as a time frame for reviewing those conclusions. This gives us just a few short weeks to make sure that the government keeps its promise that the Office of the CORE will be completely autonomous and will have the necessary investigative powers to compel documents and testimony.
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