To further promote public confidence in the integrity of SaskEnergy and its employees, a Whistleblower Policy was adopted, which sets out a formal process for the reporting, investigation and appropriate follow-up for actual or potential wrongdoing. The Public Interest Disclosure Act provides employees with an additional mechanism to disclose wrongdoing. In addition, SaskEnergy’s Owner requires disclosure to the police of all losses in excess of $200, and disclosure to the Board, CIC Board, and Minister of all losses over $500, pursuant to the Reporting of Losses Policy and processes. Compliance with the Code is reinforced through mandatory training of all employees, and confirmed through the use of an online tool. The Code and the Whistleblower and Reporting of Losses Policies are posted on the SaskEnergy intranet site for employees, and the Code and Whistleblower Policies are on SaskEnergy’s website for public access. A process is also posted on the website for members of the public to contact the Chair of the Governance Committee of the Board, in confidence, to report any potential violation of the Code or Whistleblower Policy. Management monitors and reports on any issues arising under the Code annually, the Whistleblower Policy semi-annually, and the Reporting of Losses Policy quarterly, to the Governance and Human Resources/Compensation Committees who are charged with oversight of compliance with these policies. In addition to the Code, SaskEnergy’s Directors are required to abide by CIC’s Directors’ Code of Conduct. The Governance Committee, appointed as Ethics Advisor for this purpose, is required to administer, monitor and enforce the Directors’ Code of Conduct, which includes reporting annually to the Board concerning compliance. It is also standard procedure to commence all Board and Committee meetings with an in- camera agenda item providing Directors with an opportunity to declare any conflicts of interest or any changes to outside employment or directorships they hold that may create a potential or perceived conflict of interest. Upon appointment, Directors declare directorships on, and material interests in, other business and any material contract entered into with SaskEnergy or its subsidiaries to the Governance Committee who works proactively to address any potential conflicts of interest. Agenda items are monitored by management, and those containing any item that a Director has disclosed a material interest in are not distributed to the Director. Likewise, any Director subject to CIC’s Protocol Regarding Lawyers Serving on Subsidiary Crown Corporation Boards of Directors will recuse themselves from consideration of any item creating a potential conflict of interest. This year there were no waivers granted by the Board to any Directors or Officers authorizing non-compliance with these policies.
Public Policy Role SaskEnergy is a statutory Crown corporation governed by The SaskEnergy Act and Regulations. By legislation, CIC is the statutory holding corporation for all of Saskatchewan’s commercial Crown corporations. CIC has the authority to establish direction for SaskEnergy related to matters set out in legislation. As a provincial Crown corporation, SaskEnergy serves a public policy role. Its mission is to develop and deliver safe, reliable natural gas solutions that benefit its customers and Saskatchewan through its team of engaged employees and business alliances. SaskEnergy and its subsidiaries fulfill this mission through the operation of systems for natural gas distribution, transmission, storage, line locating and other related activities to promote the conservation and safe use of natural gas, while contributing to, and promoting, the economy of the Province. CIC approves SaskEnergy’s Business Plan annually and sets any other strategic priorities against which CIC and the Owner will measure the Corporation’s performance. SaskEnergy collaborates with other Saskatchewan Crown corporations to further CIC’s stated priorities of enhancing efficiency gains through joint initiatives, and promoting an open business environment. Approach to Governance SaskEnergy is not legally obligated to comply with the CSA governance guidelines, as it does not have share capital and is not a reporting issuer. However, it works toward those guidelines that are applicable and has benchmarked its governance practices against the CSA National Policy and Instrument Guidelines, guidelines of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, and observations of the Auditor General of Canada, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat and Conference Board of Canada, to address key performance indicators in the measurement of governance. The practices of SaskEnergy are substantially consistent with the foregoing standards as published. Integrity and Ethics SaskEnergy promotes a strong culture of ethical business conduct at all levels of the Corporation. The Board has approved and adopted a written Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the Code) that applies to employees, officers and Directors of SaskEnergy. The Code, designed to promote integrity and deter wrongdoing, is based on values of fairness and honesty, equal treatment and accountability. It provides guidelines on handling information and protecting or using corporate assets, confidentiality, conduct with suppliers and customers, business hosting, international business, conflicts of interest, compliance with laws and policies, and reporting.
75
2014 Annual Report SaskEnergy
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator