Description: US Airways and American Airlines have agreed to a $11 billion merger, creating the world’s largest airline company. Source: CBC Date: February 14 2013 Video link: http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Business/ID/2335150941/ Questions for Discussion: What are some of the changes for this merged entity? How will this merger impact the airline industry? Will this merger benefit or… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Ethics
SNC Lavalin accused of bribing Gadhafi son
Description: It is alleged that SNC Lavalin, one of Canada’s biggest companies, paid $160 million to son of Libya’s dictator to bag engineering contracts in Libya. Source: CBC Date: January 25 2013 Video and Text Link: http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Business/ID/2329231193/ Questions for Discussion: Do you feel such cases—bribing people to win contracts—are common in international dealings? In your… Read more »
Push to combat cross-border corruption
Description: Sandy Boucher, a fraud investigator at law firm Grant Thornton, tells BNN that there is a new push among developed economies to enforce litigations on firms dealing in cross-border corruption. Source: BNN Date: November 01 2012 Video and Text Link: http://www.bnn.ca/News/2012/11/1/Miners-face-new-reality-in-corruption-enforcement.aspx Questions for Discussion: Should Canadian companies be penalized for bribing when companies from… Read more »
Why worry about Chinese investments?
Description: Canada signed a foreign investment partnership agreement with China. While it will encourage much needed capital investments in to Canada, many Canadians are worried. Source: The Globe and Mail Date: November 01 2012 Text: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/commentary/the-chinese-are-coming-the-chinese-are-coming/article4803722/ Questions for Discussion: Do you agree that this agreement is beneficial for Canada? What are the drawbacks for such… Read more »
The Glass Ceiling Effect in Golf Clubs
Description: Private Golf clubs such as the National Golf Club of Canada continue to refuse memberships to women. Source: The Globe and Mail Date: August 27 2012 Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/commentary/editorials/golf-clubs-should-no-longer-exclude-women/article4503636/ Questions for Discussion: Do you agree with the arguments made by proponents of male-only only golf clubs? Can you think of other institutions or clubs where… Read more »
The Costs of using Credit Cards in Canada
Description: The Canadian Competition Bureau argued that Canada’s credit card system is a “perverse” place where Visa and MasterCard shoppers charge merchants much higher fees. They argue that Canadian merchants pay among the highest fees in the world for accepting credit cards. The merchants pass some of the higher fees to consumers who end up… Read more »
Wal-Mart under Bribery Investigation
Description: Wal-Mart will spend millions of dollars investigating US$24-million in alleged Mexican bribes. It is alleged that Wal-Mart de Mexico bribed Mexican government officials and paid US$16-million in “donations” to Mexican local governments to fuel store expansion in the country up to 2005. Source: Financial Post Date: April 24, 2012 Video Link: http://business.financialpost.com/2012/04/24/wal-mart-bribery-investigation-may-expand-to-include-cover-up-claims/ Questions for… Read more »
Bombardier Inc.’s Showcase Project in South Africa
Bombardier Inc.’s $3.7 billion Gautrain project in South Africa was launched in 2010 during World cup soccer. Gautrain, which runs on an 80 km route covering two cities and an airport, is now facing several problems such as limited train schedules, technical issues, limited bus service connectivity to the train stations and lower than projected… Read more »
Wal-Mart and Corporate Social Responsibility
The 2011Corporate Social responsibility report (CSR) of Wal-Mart Canada shows many positives. Reporting on the four categories of CSR—Environment, People, Ethical sourcing and Community, Wal-Mart posits that its policies has benefitted local Canadian businesses, encouraged organic baby food and discouraged child labour. However, the article suggests that these positives can also be drawbacks depending on… Read more »
Penalty Kick
More potential corruption in the world of international sports surfaced this week with charges that two top executives of the Federation Internationale de Football Association offered bribes to voting members. Mohamed bin Hamman is accused of offering to pay $40,000 each for as many 25 votes to become president of the governing body. Jack Warner… Read more »
