Within the Canadian context what is CSR? Who is responsible for it? Which civil society sector benefits most? Should the government mandate a comprehensive CSR policy?
CSR can be both public policy and private concern for the betterment of the voluntary sector.
2. Only in Canada? Pity.
Just watch me – Pierre Trudeau 1970
Swedish for Common Sense
Which are socially responsible and which are
marketing ploys?
3. What is Corporate Social Responsibility?
• Let’s define it using dictionary.com
• Corporate (adj.) “of, for, or belonging to a corporation” (n.) “an association
of individuals, created by law or under authority of law, having a continuous
existence independent of the existences of its members.”
• Social (adj.) “of or relating to human society.”
• Responsibility (n.) “the state or fact of being responsible” (adj.) as “having
a capacity for moral decisions and therefore accountable.”
• So CSR is when “an inanimate object, created by human beings, makes
moral and accountable decisions on behalf of human society.” Wait!
What?
• Not really. But an inanimate, non-corporeal body like Ford, created by and
for humans, can make moral and accountable decisions relating to human
society.
4. CSR Defined - Continued
• Historically, charters for corporations could be withdrawn if the corporation
failed to serve the public interest
• A law clerk interpreted a US Supreme Court decision (14th Amendment) as
meaning a corporation was equal to a natural born human.
• Milton Friedman (1970) said business’s only responsibility is to make more
profit period.
• But Forbes and Macleans have listings every year of companies that are
showing “social responsibility” such as reducing environmental impact,
improving working conditions of overseas labour, and “publish what you
pay.”
• In Canada, if working overseas, companies are still liable under Canadian
law for: anti-corruption and –bribery; transparency; conflict-sensitive
business practices; conflict minerals; and, due diligence in retail garments.
• Domestically, under the Industrial and Regional Benefits Policy companies
gaining a Federal contract must spend the equivalent to 100% of the net
profit on “social” programs.
5. Should CSR be mandated for Canadian business?
• Paul Tsaparis says only comprehensive adoption of CSR
will assist Canada in a global market.
• Peter Foster believes lower taxes, more $ to R&D and
improved education is needed.
• A comprehensive list of behaviours and activities under a
legislated CSR Policy is not possible. There are too many
variables.
• Current legislation is “good enough” for now.
• But there needs to be on-going discussions between the
public-, private-, and voluntary-sectors on how Canada
can contribute to “social responsibility” domestically and
abroad.
6. Who’s Who: Public, Private, & Voluntary Sectors
• Civil Society is “neatly” divided into 3 sectors: public
(government), private (business), and voluntary (Red Cross,
WWF, Cancer Society)
• But the lines between the 3 are blurring. Everyone has
contact with all 3 every day.
• CSR can be used by all 3 as a “marketing ploy” BUT it can
also be used to give legitimacy to a non-traditional sector
entering into a new one (Stella Artois and Water.org)
• Relationships between the 3 are getting better under CSR. All
3 sectors realize they need each other for resources,
legitimacy, expertise, etc.
7. Public policy or Private concern?
• CSR has a “fuzzy” definition; some government
regulation may be needed in certain areas; the actors
refuse to stay within sectorial limits; and, relationships
between sectors have improved.
• Should CSR be legislated Public policy or Private
business concern? BOTH – it’s a balancing act that
depends upon humans at either end.
• Every institution, organization and business is run by and
for people. People must stand up and be “counted” and
let their voices be heard on this (and many more issues).
8. References & Resources
• Anonymous. (2007, December). People versus corporations: A history. New Internationalist, 407, 12-13.
• Bourgon, J. (2007). Responsive, responsible and respected government: Towards a new public administration theory. International
Review of Administrative Sciences, 73(1), 7-26. doi:10.1177/0020852307075686
• Denning, S. (2013, June 26). The origin of 'the world's dumbest idea': Milton Friedman. Forbes.Com, 2015
• Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada. (2014). Corporate social responsibility. Retrieved May 30, 2015, from
http://www.international.gc.ca/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/topics-domaines/other-autre/csr-rse.aspx?lang=eng
• Foster, P. (2005, April 27). Why do CEOs sign on to CSR? National Post [National Edition], pp. FP23.
• Friedman, M. (1970, September 13). The social responsibility of business is to increase its profits. New York Times, pp. 32-33.
• Industry Canada. (2014). Industrial and regional benefits. Retrieved May 30, 2015, from https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/042.nsf/eng/home
• Kernaghan, K., Marson, B., & Borins, S. F. (2000). The new public organization (3rd ed.). Toronto: The Institute of Public Administration
of Canada.
• macleans.ca. (2014, June 05). Top 50 socially responsible corporations: 2014. Macleans, 2015 Retrieved from
http://www.macleans.ca/work/bestcompanies/top-50-socially-responsible-corporations-2014/
• Panel on Accountability and Governance in the Voluntary Sector. (1999). Chapter 1 - 3. Building on strength: Improving governance and
accountability in Canada's voluntary sector: Final report (pp. 1-35). Ottawa: The Panel.
• Phillips, S. D., & Graham, K. A. (2000). Hand-in-hand: When accountability meets collaboration in the voluntary sector. In K. G. Banting
(Ed.), The nonprofit sector in Canada: Roles and relationships (pp. 149-190). Kingston: School of Policy Studies.
• Porritt, J., & Fauset, C. (2007, December). The big debate: Reform or revolution? New Internationalist, 407, 14-16.
• PWGSC. (2014). National shipbuilding procurement strategy (NSPS). Retrieved June 15, 2014, from http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/app-
acq/sam-mps/snacn-nsps-eng.html
• Ryval, M. (2008, Nov 18, 2008). Lessons of the meltdown. The Globe and Mail, pp. E 2.
• Tait, J. C. (2000). A strong foundation: Report of the task force on public service values and ethics. Ottawa: The Task Force.
• Want to read the paper? Try Slide Share or Academia.edu
