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Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD)- 2025 Reporting under the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act

Part 1-Submission information

1.1 This report is for: a government institution

1.2 Legal name of the reporting government institution:  Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD)

1.3 Reporting year: May 31,2025

1.4 Financial year covered by report (start date and end date): April 1,2024 to March 31,2025

1.5 Is this a revised version of a report that was already submitted this reporting year: No

1.6 Is this a report for a parent federal Crown corporation or a wholly owned subsidiary: No

Part 2-Annual Report

2.1 Which of the following accurately describes the government institution's structure?

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD):

2.2 What steps has the government institution taken in the previous financial year to prevent and reduce the risk that forced labour or child labour is used at any step of the production of goods produced, purchased or distributed by the government institution?

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD):

DFATD has integrated Public Services and Procurement Canada’s (PSPC) Code of Conduct for Procurement (the Code) in our purchasing activities to prevent and reduce the risk of forced labour or child labour in our procurements. DFATD has integrated PSPC’s updated Standard Instruction for services and goods and General Conditions for services and goods where the Code has been incorporated. The Code applies to all vendors and sub-contractors who respond to bid solicitations and/or provide goods/services to Canada. The Code was updated in May of 2023 to include language specific to Human trafficking, forced labour and child labour. DFATD contracting templates incorporate general conditions for goods which form a part of the contract, anti-forced labour requirements are part of the General Conditions.

Since November 2021, PSPC and Shared Services Canada (SSC) have implemented anti-forced labour clauses in all goods contracts to ensure that it can terminate contracts where there is credible information that the goods have been produced in whole or in part by forced labour or human trafficking.  Furthermore, as of November 20, 2023, all PSPC and SSC Standing Offers and Supply Arrangements for goods that have been issued, amended, or refreshed include anti-forced labour clauses as part of the general conditions for goods.

In addition, to prevent and reduce the risk of forced labour or child labour in our procurements, DFATD has used the following list of PSPC and SSC tools:

As such, all DFATD contracts for goods resulting from the use of PSPC and SSC tools include clauses relating to forced labour, which outline, among other things, human rights and labour rights requirements.

2.3 What steps has the government institution taken in the previous financial year to prevent and reduce the risk that forced labour or child labour is used at any step of the production of goods produced, purchased or distributed by the government institution?

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD):

Please provide additional information describing the steps taken.

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD):

DFATD has integrated Public Services and Procurement Canada’s (PSPC) the Code in our purchasing activities to prevent and reduce the risk of forced labour or child labour in our procurements. DFATD has integrated PSPC’s updated Standard Instruction for services and goods and General Conditions for services and goods where the Code has been incorporated. The Code applies to all vendors and sub-contractors who respond to bid solicitations and/or provide goods/services to Canada. The Code was updated in May of 2023 to include language specific to Human trafficking, forced labour and child labour. DFATD contracting templates incorporate general conditions for goods which form a part of the contract, anti-forced labour requirements are part of the General Conditions.

Since November 2021, PSPC and SSC have implemented anti-forced labour clauses in all goods contracts to ensure that it can terminate contracts where there is credible information that the goods have been produced in whole or in part by forced labour or human trafficking.  Furthermore, as of November 20, 2023, all PSPC  and SSC Standing Offers and Supply Arrangements for goods that have been issued, amended, or refreshed include anti-forced labour clauses as part of the general conditions for goods.

In addition, to prevent and reduce the risk of forced labour or child labour in our procurements, DFATD has used the following list of PSPC and SSC tools:

As such, all DFATD contracts for goods resulting from the use of PSPC and SSC tools include clauses relating to forced labour, which outline, among other things, human rights and labour rights requirements.

2.4 Does the government institution currently have policies and due diligence processes in place related to forced labour and/or child labour?

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD):

Effective April 1, 2023, amendments to the Treasury Board Directive on the Management of Procurement require contracting authorities from all departments listed in Schedules I, I.1 and II of the Financial Administration Act (with the exception of the Canada Revenue Agency) and commissions established in accordance with the Inquiries Act and designated as a department for the purposes of the Financial Administration Act to incorporate the Code into their procurements.

The Code requires that vendors, providing goods to the Government of Canada and their sub-contractors, comply with all applicable laws and regulations. In addition, the Code requires vendors and their sub-contractors to comply with Canada’s prohibition on the importation of goods produced, in whole or in part, by forced or compulsory labour. This includes forced or compulsory child labour and applies to all goods, regardless of their country of origin.

Pursuant to the aforementioned amendments, DFATD has continued to integrate the Code into our procurements, with a view to safeguarding federal procurement supply chains from forced labour and child labour. Contracts that our organization has awarded included the Code through the General Conditions for goods.

The prohibition on the importation of goods produced wholly or in part by forced labour came into force under the Customs Tariff on July 1, 2020. This amendment implemented a commitment in the Labour Chapter of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) and applies to all imports, regardless of origin.

If yes, which of the following elements of the policies and/or due diligence process has the government institution implemented in relation to forced labour and/or child labour? Select all that apply.

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD):

2.5 Has the government institution identified parts of its activities and supply chains that carry a risk of forced labour or child labour being used?

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD):

If yes, has the government institution identified forced labour or child labour risks related to any of the following aspects of its activities and supply chains?

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD):

2.6 Has the government institution identified forced labour or child labour risks in its activities and supply chains related to any of the following sectors and industries?

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD):

2.7  Has the government institution taken any measures to remediate any forced labour or child labour in its activities and supply chains?

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD):

If yes, which remediation measures has the government institution taken?

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD):

2.8 Has the government institution taken any measures to remediate the loss of income to the most vulnerable individuals and families that results from any measure taken to eliminate the use of forced labour or child labour in its activities and supply chains?

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD):

2.9 Does the government institution currently provide training to employees on forced labour and/or child labour?

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD):

DFATD is aware that PSPC has developed and is currently piloting a course for procurement officers. DFATD will leverage the course upon its publication for use across the Government of Canada.

If yes, is the training mandatory?

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD):

2.10 Does the government institution currently have policies and procedures in place to assess its effectiveness in ensuring that forced labour and child labour are not being used in its activities and supply chains?

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD):

DFATD has integrated Public Services and Procurement Canada’s (PSPC) the Code in our purchasing activities to prevent and reduce the risk of forced labour or child labour in our procurements. DFATD has integrated PSPC’s updated Standard Instruction for goods and General Conditions for goods where the Code has been incorporated. The Code applies to all vendors and sub-contractors who respond to bid solicitations and/or provide goods and services to Canada. The Code was updated in May of 2023 to include language specific to Human trafficking, forced labour and child labour.  DFATD contracting templates incorporate general conditions for goods which form a part of the contract, anti-forced labour requirements are part of the General Conditions.

Since November 2021, PSPC and SSC have implemented anti-forced labour clauses in all goods contracts to ensure that it can terminate contracts where there is credible information that the goods have been produced in whole or in part by forced labour or human trafficking.  Furthermore, as of November 20, 2023, all PSPC  and SSC Standing Offers and Supply Arrangements for goods that have been issued, amended, or refreshed include anti-forced labour clauses as part of the general conditions for goods.

In addition, to prevent and reduce the risk of forced labour or child labour in our procurements, DFATD has used the following list of PSPC and SSC tools:

As such, all DFATD contracts for goods resulting from the use of PSPC and SSC tools include  clauses relating to forced labour, which outline, among other things, human rights and labour rights requirements.

If yes, what method does the government institution use to assess its effectiveness?

Response from Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD)

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