At a Glance: Understanding the Office of the Extractive Sector CSR Counsellor and Canada's National Contact Point

August 2012

Understanding the Office and Canada’s NCP
IssueExtractive Sector CSR CounsellorCanadian National Contact Point
Performance guidelines
  • IFC Performance Standards
  • Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights
  • Global Reporting Initiative
  • OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises
  • OECD Due Diligence Guidelines for Responsible Suplly Chains of Minerals from Conflict - Affected and High-Risk Areas
  • United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
  • OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises
Industries
  • Mining, oil and gas
  • All industries
Type of companies impacted
  • Mining, oil or gas companies that have been incorporated in Canada or have a head office in Canada
  • Overseas operations only
  • Non-Canadian multinational enterprises in their Canadian operationsFootnote *
  • Canadian multinational enterprises in their overseas operations (in countries where a domestic NCP is not available)Footnote *
Who can bring a request?
  • Project-affected individuals, groups or communities
  • Canadian mining, oil or gas companies which believe they are the subject of unfounded allegations (in relation to the performance guidelines)
  • Any person or organization
Structure
  • Office headed by a Governor- in-Council appointee, the Extractive Sector CSR Counsellor
  • Interdepartmental committee composed of eight Government of Canada departments, chaired by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Reporting
  • Optional Closing reports (at the close of situational assessments)
  • Final statements (at the close of specific instances)

Footnotes

Footnote *

The commentary on the procedural guidance for the OECD Guidelines (2011) notes: "Generally, issues will be dealt with by the NCP in whose country the issue has arisen. Among adhering countries, such issues will first be discussed on the national level and, where appropriate, pursued at the bilateral level."

Return to footnote * referrer