Discussing Public Accountability of Canadian Economic Diplomacy in Mexico and Guatemala

This summer, Charis Kamphuis (TRU Faculty of Law) and Shin Imai (Osgoode Hall Law School), both founding members of the Justice & Corporate Accountability Project (JCAP), led important advances in two Canadian Federal Court cases that raise concerns about the actions of Canadian officials at diplomatic missions in Mexico and Guatemala. In both cases, JCAP alleges that, while providing support for Canadian mining companies? operations abroad, public officials failed to follow Canada?s international law obligations and domestic policies on human rights defenders and corporate social responsibility. These cases represent the first time that public accountability for the human rights impacts of Canada?s ?economic diplomacy? is being discussed in a Canadian court of law.