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Code of Business Ethics |
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Commitment to Legal and Ethical Conduct |
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EDC will conduct its business and affairs in accordance
with the letter and spirit of all applicable
laws in the countries in which it does business. If
any EDC employee or representative is ever uncertain
as to the interpretation or application of a
particular law, he or she must seek advice from
Legal Services before taking action. Compliance
with the law may, however, fall short of the standard
of ethical conduct expected by EDC.
Accordingly, it is EDC’s policy that each of its
directors, employees and representatives conduct
EDC’s business with honesty, integrity, and fairness.
It is also corporate policy that communication
and relationships with stakeholders be
truthful and transparent in a way that will withstand
the highest degree of public scrutiny.
Working relationships will be based on candour
and openness, treating each other fairly and with
respect, while acting with integrity, and weighing
responsibilities to all stakeholders.
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The Environment |
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In considering transactions, EDC examines environmental
risk along with any other risk. EDC is
developing its own environmental assessment
framework in consultation with Canadian
exporters, environmental organizations and other
stakeholders. This framework will support EDC’s
desire to conserve and enhance environmental
quality and to advocate concern for the environmental
impact of projects it supports in foreign
jurisdictions. EDC will encourage best practices
among those with whom it does business, with the
aim of raising international environmental standards.
EDC will strive for high standards of environmental
conservation while ensuring this does
not unduly hinder EDC’s ability to support
Canadian exporters to compete on a global scale.
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Prohibitions Against Bribery and Corruption |
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Basic criminal statutes of virtually all countries
prohibit extortion and bribery. Under no circumstances
will EDC, directly or indirectly, knowingly
offer or give a bribe. Further, EDC will not support
a transaction that involves the offer or giving of a
bribe, and will exercise reasonable diligence and
care not to support unknowingly such a transaction.
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Human Rights |
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EDC values human rights and promotes the
protection of internationally recognized human
rights, consistent with the policies of the government
of Canada. EDC recognizes the sovereignty
of other national governments when there is
consistency with the policies of the government
of Canada.
EDC employees, representatives and other stakeholders
are entitled to have their dignity as human
beings respected and to work in an environment
free from intimidation, hostility or offensiveness.
EDC is therefore committed to creating and maintaining
a work and business environment that is
free from harassment and discrimination on
prohibited grounds. These prohibited grounds
include: age, race, colour, religion, creed, sex,
nationality, ethnic or place of origin, citizenship,
language, political belief, marital or family status,
pregnancy, sexual orientation and disability.
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Avoiding Conflicts of Interest |
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Employees and representatives of EDC have a duty
to act in the best interests of EDC at all times. A
conflict of interest arises when an employee must
choose between EDC’s best interests and his/her
own. The judgment of EDC employees and representatives
must be, and must be seen to be, independent
of any personal or financial interests that
arise from business dealings, social ties, or other
personal considerations.
EDC has adopted a code of conduct that requires
employees and representatives of EDC to adhere
to the highest standards of conduct with respect to
conflicts of interest. Compliance with these standards
is achieved through avoidance, disclosure,
discontinuance or divestment.
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Maintaining Confidentiality of Information |
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EDC will respect the privacy rights of its stakeholders,
including their right to security of information.
EDC will preserve confidential information in
its possession, and use such information only for
corporate purposes.
Some employees have access to sensitive or
confidential information that, if released, could
significantly harm EDC, its employees or other
stakeholders. Therefore, employees and other
representatives of EDC must use extreme care
when handling such information. As a general
rule, such information shall not be provided to
EDC employees or representatives other than on a
need-to-know basis or to anyone outside EDC who
is not authorized or legally entitled to receive it.
EDC’s Code of Conduct provides examples of confidential
information and contains stringent rules
regarding the disclosure, use and communication
of such information.
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