The Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact were created to assist businesses in embracing, supporting, and integrating sustainability into their core strategic and operational functions, as well as their spheres of influence. During its second year, the COVID-19 pandemic compelled businesses to enhance their commitments to the Ten Principles under the four pillars of Human Rights, Labour, Environment, and Anti-Corruption to ensure a strong economic recovery.
The COVID-19 pandemic not only reversed progress in these critical areas but also presented new challenges that need to be considered. Canadian businesses can realign their commitments, and goals and accelerate progress for responsible business conduct in the Decade of Action by employing the Ten Principles.
A 5-part webinar series was organized, bringing together representatives from business and government to explore how organizations could optimize their economic recovery through a Principles-based approach. Uniting businesses would accelerate progress locally and globally.
Webinar Series
Session 1 – The 4th Industrial Revolution and Human Rights: Doing Business Responsibly in the New Era
Date: April 15, 2021
Time: 1pm – 2pm EDT
This webinar aims to discuss the evolving considerations for human rights for businesses in today’s world and how businesses can future-proof human rights due diligence. The pandemic has accelerated the pace of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). For the first time, new technologies are merging the physical, digital and biological spaces affecting all disciplines, countries and sectors. The human rights treaties developed by the United Nations have outlined our understanding of human rights conduct in business for decades. As a result of COVID-19 and in light of the 4IR, it is imperative to revisit the human rights considerations from a modern world perspective.
- Abiola Okpechi, Subject Matter Expert – Business & Human Rights at Assent Compliance
- Dominic Channer, Vice-President Community Relations at Kinross Gold Corporation
- Julie Garfieldt Kofoed, Head of Human Rights at UN Global Compact
Session 2 – Respecting Labour Rights: Business Leaders and the Changing Landscape of Decent Work
Date: May 13, 2021
Time: 1pm – 2pm EDT
Businesses are only able to offer decent work if they respect and protect the rights of workers and assure compliance with labour standards. While Canada has comprehensive legislation related to labour and the workplace, the pandemic has fundamentally changed the ways that Canadians work and, in some cases, widened the gaps that prevent workers, especially women and underrepresented groups, from accessing opportunities for decent work. To future-proof business and foster resiliency in the face of crisis, companies must embed and reinforce decent work principles across their operations and supply chains. This webinar aims to discuss how businesses are viewing this changing landscape and how they are approaching decent work both within their organization and their supply chain.
- Eira Thomas, President & CEO, Lucara Diamond
- Kevin B. Coon, Partner, Baker McKenzie
- Marie-lou Dupont, Senior Manager, UN Global Compact
Session 3 – Refocusing the Decade of Delivery: How Businesses Can Drive Ambitious Corporate Climate Action
Date: June 10, 2021
Time: 1pm – 2pm EDT
Derived from the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, Environment is one of the four pillars of the UN Global Compact’s Ten Principles. This Principles-based approach to business encourages organizations to “support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges, undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility, and encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies.” This webinar aims to discuss how Canadian companies have leveraged sustainable business models and practices to define challenges, implement solutions and measure outcomes to further drive accelerated corporate climate action.
- Catherine Thibault, Director, Public Affairs and Global Communications, CAE
- Lila Karbassi, Chief Programmes, UN Global Compact
- Rachel Bannon-Godfrey, Senior Principal, Sustainability Discipline Leader, Stantec Buildings
- William Surphlis, President and Founder, Brooklin Consulting
Session 4 – Building Resilience: The Evolving Role of Corporate Governance
Date: July 8, 2021
Time: 1pm – 2pm EDT
Businesses are facing a host of vulnerabilities in light of the pandemic. With supply chains having to bear the weight of quarantine measures, border closures and delays due to outbreaks in the manufacturing sector, companies are exposed to increased risks of fraud, corruption and cyber-security. To combat these challenges, businesses must reconsider their corporate governance frameworks to ensure transparency. This webinar aims to discuss how companies are re-evaluating the way of doing business and their priority considerations regarding risk management and resilience.
- Marian Van Hoek, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer, BASF Canada
- Neelam Sandhu, Senior Vice President & Chief Elite Customer Success Officer, Blackberry
- Patricia Alleyn, Head of the Integrity Program, SNC-Lavalin
Session 5 – Canada and Beyond: A Principles-Based Approach to Building Back Better
Date: August 12, 2021
Time: 1pm – 2pm EDT
The pandemic has created an unprecedented shift in our approach to tackling the biggest challenges of our time. The Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact within four pillars: human rights, labour rights, environmental protection and anti-corruption, are key issue areas that have been severely impacted but are fundamental in accelerating the actions needed to achieve the 2030 Agenda. This webinar aims to explore how the Government of Canada is addressing these challenge areas and what are the broader implications of Canada’s international efforts to promote the principles of sustainable development in the Decade of Action.
- Chris Moran, Director General, Trade Portfolio Strategy Coordination Bureau, Global Affairs Canada
- Craig Ryan, Director, Sustainability & ESG, BDC
- Olivier Bullion, Director, Sustainable Development Goals Unit, Employment and Social Development Canada