Survey finds big differences between companies, but actions still lag for most.

(Toronto, Canada, April 21, 2009) Today, Corporate Knights Magazine unveiled the first Corporate Knights Aboriginal Relations Ranking for extractive industries. The comprehensive ranking identifies Canadian companies with active, developed, and inclusive Aboriginal relations practices and policies in place. Corporate Knights examined 28 companies based on size in four sectors: Forestry, Mining, Oil and Gas, and Utilities.

The top companies in the 2009 Corporate Knights Aboriginal Relations Ranking are as follows:
Forestry: Domtar Corp.
Mining: Cameco Corp.
Oil and Gas: Suncor Energy Inc.
Utilities: British Columbia Hydro and Power

“With over 40 per cent of Canada’s resource rich land controlled lock, stock and barrel by Aboriginal communities, the ability to get along with our First Nations, Métis and Inuit compatriots will underline the difference between companies that succeed and companies that fail in the resource sector,” said Toby Heaps, Editor of Corporate Knights. “In an increasingly resource constrained world, this ability to get along with indigenous communities counts big time not just in Canada, but also as a bellwether for making projects work in further-flung parts of the globe.”

The Corporate Knights survey found that despite the lip service paid to joint management, shared decision-making was not backed up. Only two out of the 28 companies have an Aboriginal director on their board.

On a more encouraging note, the recent decision by the Supreme Court on the duty to consult has helped to create an environment where 18 out of 28 companies we examined have a codified employment policy on Aboriginal relations.

Companies did well if they had a defined long-term vision for Aboriginal relations with explicit, ambitious targets and demonstrated results to date. Responsible companies consult Aboriginal communities early and often throughout the extractive process, and include Aboriginal representatives on Boards of Directors and management teams. Progressive companies pass on the benefits accrued from extraction through profit sharing and the gradual transfer of long-term assets.