Accountability in the tar sands
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- Published on Monday, 11 April 2016 16:15
- Written by editor
Suncor’s AGM is in just a few days -- and we have a chance to make history.
Will you join a ground-breaking shareholder proposal that would force Suncor to disclose its political and lobbying expenses?
A,
We have exciting news. Thanks to you, we filed our first-ever shareholder proposal in Canada -- and in a few days it’s going to a vote!
The company is Suncor, the largest company working in the tar sands. We’ve teamed up with a powerful coalition of groups to leverage the voices of thousands of small shareholders (like you!) and expose Suncor’s political contributions.
An influential investment advisory firm just recommended shareholders vote FOR our proposal — meaning we could actually win this. And now, we need your help to make sure it passes.
Here’s how: you are probably a Suncor shareholder. You’ve probably contributed to a pension fund like the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Québec Pension Plan (QPP), a retirement savings plan, or a mutual fund. And if you have, it’s likely invested in Suncor. Even if you don’t a have personal pension plan, the government does.
That gives you a key role in making sure major investors vote for our proposal. Can you add your voice to our call now?
Go to the Vote Your Pension site and vote FOR accountability in the tar sands!
Our groundbreaking motion is calling on Suncor to disclose its lobbying payments used to influence government policy at all levels. We’re also asking for disclosure on trade associations memberships -- another way companies lobby for weaker and weaker rules on everything from climate policy to water use.
Our shareholder proposal is the first of its kind to be filed in Canada -- and it’s important. This is our opportunity to bring much-needed global standards of accountability to the Canadian oil patch.
This shareholder proposal is a checkmate against Suncor. If it gets a strong vote, not only will it force Suncor to to disclose the extent of its lobbying and political expenditures, it could also force more fossil fuel companies to follow suit.
The SumOfUs community has come together before to hold Suncor accountable for putting fossil fuel extraction before the environment and local communities. We’ve also targeted Monsanto using our groundbreaking shareholder tactics, and last year we forced mining giant Newmont to promise a controversial mining project wouldn’t go ahead without community consent during its Annual General Meeting.
The team at SumOfUs has lots of important work underway this shareholder season -- this is just the beginning. But right now, we need your help to make sure this transparency motion gets a strong vote at Suncor's AGM.
Ask your fund to vote FOR transparency at Suncor.
Thanks for all you do,
Emma, Lisa, Rosa and the SumOfUs team
More information
Suncor 2016 Shareholder ResolutionCase Study: Trade Association Lobbying - Attacking the Clean Power Plan - How Canadian Corporations are Indirectly Supporting Action Against US Climate Regulations. SHARE, March 14, 2016.
Suncor score of corporate influence on climate change policy, influencemap.org
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