Report on travel and hospitality expenses
On December 12, 2003 , the Prime Minister announced a new policy on the mandatory publication of travel and hospitality expenses for selected government officials. In keeping with this policy, the Board of Directors of CCC has decided to make available the travel and hospitality
expenses incurred within the Corporation by the Chairman, Directors, President and Corporate Officers.
Travel and Hospitality Expense Reports
The rules and principles governing travel are outlined in Treasury Board's Travel Directive and Special Travel Authorities.
The purpose of these directives is to provide for the reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred during travel on government business. CCC extends hospitality in accordance with the rules and principles outlined in the CCC Hospitality Policy.
The objective of the policy is to ensure that hospitality is extended in an economical and affordable way when it facilitates government business or is considered desirable as a matter of courtesy and protocol.
The information on this web site will be updated quarterly, effective April 1, 2004 .
Please note that information that normally would not be disclosed under
the Access to Information Act or the Privacy Act does
not appear on this web site.
Social Responsibility
Describing the world as a Global Village rings especially true for CCC, as we do business on behalf of Canadian
exporters in many countries around the world. Representing both the
Government of Canada and Canadian exporters means that we must carefully
consider all the implications of business activities not only
here at home but also abroad. CCC's vision in the area of Corporate Social
Responsibility is to operate in an environmentally, socially and ethically
responsible manner and respect Canada 's international
commitments, while upholding the Corporation's public policy mandate within
its resources.
CCC is taking various steps to make Corporate Social Responsibility
an integral part of its governance, planning and operations, and to strengthen
its capacity in CSR.
Bribery and Corruption
CCC is subject to the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials
Act, which stipulates
that bribing foreign government employees is a criminal activity. The
Corporation has therefore included in all its domestic contracts with
Canadian suppliers a clause prohibiting the bribery and corruption
of government officials. Should a Canadian supplier be caught bribing
a government official while under a contract with the Canadian Commercial
Corporation, the CCC reserves the right to apply various sanctions including the termination of the contract with the supplier.
The Department of Justice also issued a guide to explain the Act which
can be found on http://canada.justice.gc.ca/en/dept/pub/cfpoa/guide5.html
Governance and Accountability
CCC was created in 1946 by an Act of Parliament: the Canadian
Commercial Corporation Act,
which was revised in 2002 through Bill C-41. In addition to its
enabling act, CCC is subject to the Financial Administration
Act,
a law that provides for the financial administration of the Government
of Canada and the control of Crown corporations. CCC is also covered
by the Access to Information Act, the Privacy Act,
and the Official Languages Act.
As a federal Crown corporation, CCC is accountable to Parliament through
the Minister of International Trade. The Minister, in turn, has given CCC's Board of Directors the authority to oversee the overall performance
of the Corporation. To fulfill that stewardship duty, the Board is expected
to exercise good judgment in establishing the Corporation's strategic direction,
safeguarding the Corporation's resources, monitoring corporate performance,
and reporting to the Crown. The corporate plan, a document highlighting
strategic objectives for the next five years, is a critical tool in the
fulfillment of these responsibilities. Annually, the Corporation is required
to report to its Board on the progress it has made toward accomplishing
the commitments set out in its annual reports. CCC's annual report must
then be approved by the Minister of International Trade before it is finally
tabled in Parliament.
Financial Accountability
The Office of the Auditor General (OAG) acts as the CCC's external auditor.
Once a year, the OAG reviews CCC's financial statements to determine their
accuracy and compliance with authorities. Every five years, the OAG conducts
a special examination of CCC's activities, including an audit opinion on
the fulfillment of management responsibilities.
Shareholder return on investment
The CCC is a low input - high output operation. Last year, on a thin operating
appropriation of $16 million, the CCC used its credibility and sales contract
expertise to bring closure to $1.44 billion worth of export sales for 194
Canadian businesses (with particular attention to SMEs). This represents
over 11,000 jobs in the Canadian economy.
Environmental review framework
CCC recognizes the importance of fostering trade competitiveness consistent
with environmental conservation, while also remaining sensitive to concerns
of extraterritoriality. Accordingly, CCC has decided to voluntarily establish
an Environmental Review Framework in respect to Capital Projects for which
CCC support is sought. In 2002-2003. CCC's Board of Directors
formalized its environmental review process by adopting the interim corporate
environmental review framework. During that period, CCC voluntarily sought
the advice of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency on conducting
an environmental assessment review of one of its capital projects.
CCC is currently monitoring Bill C-9, an Act to Amend the Canadian
Environmental Assessment Act (the CEAA). The amendments, once
proclaimed in force, would have the effect of making most Crown corporations
(with limited exceptions) immediately subject to the CEAA. However,
the proposed legislation recognizes that the existing requirements
and procedures of the CEAA may not be readily applicable or appropriate
to the variety of activities undertaken by Crown corporations. Accordingly,
the legislation provides for a three-year grace period after the proclamation
of the CEAA amendments for the Crown and the Agency to work together
to draft appropriate regulations specific to either the Crown Corporation
or to a class of Crown Corporations.
CCC remains committed to working with the Agency and other governmental organizations
to develop a satisfactory regulatory framework that will allow it
to fulfill its mandate of helping Canadian companies export their
goods and services in an environmentally and socially responsible manner.
Canadian
Environmental Assessment Act
|
