The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday edition that a new Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE), the country's watchdog for corporate abuses outside Canada, has had a busy summer. Guest columnist Oliver Chushing writes that on Aug. 24, it published initial assessment reports on three companies: Diesel, Hugo Boss and Walmart. These are in addition to the first four reports on five other companies it published. To date, all complaints relate to the alleged presence of Chinese Uyghur forced labourers in either the target company's own work force or its supply chains. The reports represent the culmination of the initial investigation stage, where companies are expected to co-operate and meet with the ombudsperson. However, CORE determined that only one of the eight companies under investigation fully co-operated with the initial investigation. All seven of the companies that in CORE's view failed to do so will be subject to further investigation. The apparent lack of co-operation by the seven companies is surprising given that the strongest penalties that CORE can issue are for failure to act in good faith. Mr. Chushing says that CORE has teeth, and can refer matters to law enforcement or a regulator.