1. “We have to protect the investors”
Guatemala’s President Berger, to justify an intervention by the military to a blockade of opponents to the Glamis gold mine.
“Historically, progress associated with [CSR] has been driven […] by state regulation”
Peter Utting, Business Responsibility for Sustainable Development
WE HAVE TO PROTECT
Thank you
Who we are
What we do
Our work on projects – DRAW FROM OUR EXPERIENCES
How we came to be involved in the CNCA
What the CNCA is trying to achieve
Move from voluntary to mandatory
Regulation
Make public financing conditional on companies meeting international standards
Thinking through a suite of incentives and disincentives to encourage companies to do that otherwise
Opening quotes to frame the issues

2. What is meant by CSR? The birth of a concept…
Recognition by business of a role to play
include social and environmental concerns into business operations
engaging with stakeholders, communities
ongoing
voluntary
QUOTE (If I must): "Corporate social responsibility is the continuing commitment by business to behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families as well as of the local community and society at large."
World Business Council for Sustainable Development, 1999
MULTIPLICITY OF DEFINITIONS, BUT
WHY? Ethical behaviour of business – assumes a duty of care
WHAT? Social and environmental concerns – sustainable development -> moves the decision-making parameters beyond financial and economic factors
CF> Brundtland Report, Our Common Future, 1987, that said that “development that "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs “
WHO? Stakeholders. Sphere of influence – societies in which they are based or operate.
TIME FRAME? Moving beyond charity, to consider longer term impacts

3. CSR – the pretty version
(1994) TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE = “PEOPLE, PLANET AND PROFIT”

4. CSR – the (not so) pretty version
Profit-centered
Reactive
Myriad
Voluntary
Compliance?
CPR
Time to call the (spin) doctor
Where things fall apart MAP– WHAT IS DRIVING CSR
PROFIT
LEADING THE WAY - Developing a competitive advantage (business case)
EVERYONE ELSE IS DOING IT - Industry trend (remain viable long term);
INTERNAL BRANDING – building a global brand (BP), or to enhance reputation
MANAGING RISK – reduce unknown costs
FOLLOWING RULES – To complywith legislation
DROPPING SHARE PRICE - enhance shareholder price, new markets
GENUINE DESIRE TO DO THE RIGHT THING
PEOPLE – LINKED TO PROJECTS AND PRODUCTION
SOCIAL LICENCE TO OPERATE - Improve relationship with communities
HUMAN RESOURCES - Better employee relationships
RISK MANAGEMENT - Response to community protests
CSR -> ENVIRONMENT
Translate into policies and approach
Environmental consciousness – recycling programs within the company
Meeting ISO standards
Weak EIAs; environmental damage itself; MITIGATE WORST IMPACTS
PROBLEMS

5. Putting the “R” back in CSR
Independent info
Alternatives
Mitigation
Monitoring
Remediation
Inform
Consult
Decide
Share
Comply
What does this mean…
It is time for CSR to grow up –meaning of responsibility – accountablity
Start with people and the planet. Def SD undercurrent to CSR.
Accountability to people:
Not just shareholders, consumers, and employees - but above all to people affected .
Involving them in
Informed decision making
meaningful and early consultation
benefit sharing
Grievance mechanisms
Accountability to the environment:
Independent verifiable and readily accessible information
Providing real alternatives – including a NO option
Mitigation measures and feedback
Openly accessible monitoring mechanisms
Effective remediation

6. Challenges, and how we get there
Rethinking corporate, consumer culture
Corporate accountability as a competitive edge
Improve and focus existing measures – “voluntarism with teeth”
State (and International) regulation
Build internal capacity in countries
Rethinking corporate culture – CSR headway; GROW UP; benefits not costs
YOU, as Engineers - firm sense of social, economic and environmental justice.
Corporate accountability – Naïve ALCAN; Voise’s bay; Cree
Engineers INTEGRAL; PROJECTS WITH INTEGRITY
Voluntarism with teeth – CSR policies, ACROSS THE BOARD- > Ethical funds, pension funds
Mandatory State regulation - COME BACK TO THE TWO QUOTES
Limits of CSR – Not SUBSTITUTE, but Not undermine regulation, promote higher standards,
State to send signals to industry - incentives
And to some extent this is where the current roundtables on mining, oil and gas has tried to move us.
SIGN OUR PETITION
Help build the capacity of governments (or initiatives like EWB)

7. Contact details Fraser Reilly-King
Coordinator, Halifax Initiative Coalition
153 Chapel Street,
Ottawa, ON K1N 1H4
Tel: (613)