Canada should adopt guidelines to improve the transparency and the environmental and human rights practices of Canadian companies involved in extractive projects in Latin America and other developing regions, says an advisory group appointed by the Canadian government. If such guidelines are adopted, Canada could become a world leader in corporate social responsibility, according to a report issued late last month by the 17-member panel, which includes representatives of industry, environmental organizations, labor, academia and socially oriented investment firms. Among the advisory group’s 27 areas of recommendation were calls for initiatives to strengthen host-country institutions and governance; an ombudsman to offer advice and investigate complaints against extractive companies; a committee to review overall compliance with the new rules; and the withholding of diplomatic... [Log in to read more]