Leaders need one focus, to help stop the spread of coronavirus: an open letter from Canadian business leaders
March 15, 2020
An open letter from Canadian business leaders.
The organizations and employers we represent compete fiercely every day. Today we stand united in a shared battle against COVID-19.
We urge every leader in the country to immediately shift focus to the singular objective of slowing the pace of transmission of this coronavirus.
International experience demonstrates that social distancing is the only effective method, and is in the best interests of our employees, their families and our communities.
While this will have significant economic impact on our businesses in the short term, it is critical to weathering this storm and will hasten the recovery.
Governments across the country have acted yet these measures will only be effective if all employers step up and do their part to protect the nation’s health and welfare.
The undersigned have taken important steps and urge your organizations to join us:
· Urge your employees to stop all non-essential travel, whether for personal or business reasons. Travel exposes people to infection, increasing risk for their personal and professional contacts.
· Enable your employees to practise social distancing. Facilitate work-from-home for all non-critical business functions. Work with government, if necessary, to ensure sick pay for workers. Cancel any in-person gatherings or events. Ensure that mental-health services are in place to support those in need during a period of social isolation.
· Maintain essential services to Canadians. In co-ordination with government, develop clear guidelines to protect the health of employees who provide critical services to the public.
· Understand that your employees are looking to you for leadership and trusted information in turbulent times. Share trusted advice from public health agencies and communicate consistently and clearly with your employees. Recap the latest guidance and show them what you’re doing to support it.
On behalf of all of us, including millions of colleagues and employees, thank you to all healthcare workers on the front lines on whom we are relying to help us through this emergency. We have enormous respect and gratitude for your efforts.
Wendy Andrushko, president, DuPont Canada
Charles Brindamour, chief executive officer, Intact Financial
Neil Chrystal, president and CEO, Polygon Homes
Dean Connor, president and CEO, Sun Life
Neil Cunningham, CEO and president of Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP)
Dennis Darby, president and CEO, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters
Paul Desmarais III, senior vice-president, Power Corporation of Canada
Victor Dodig, president and CEO, CIBC
Charles Emond, president and CEO, Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ)
Gordon J. Fyfe, CEO, British Columbia Investment Management Corporation
Russ Girling, president and CEO, TC Energy
Tim Gitzel, president and CEO, Cameco
Roy Gori, President and CEO, Manulife Financial
Blake Hutcheson, president, OMERS
Goldy Hyder, president and CEO, Business Council of Canada
Hassan Khosrowshahi, chairman, Persis Holdings
Michael Latimer, CEO of OMERS
Don Lindsay, president and CEO, Teck Resources
Chuck Magro, president and CEO, Nutrien
Dr. Mark Machin, president and CEO, CPP Investments
Bharat Masrani, group president and CEO, TD Bank Group
Michael McCain, president and CEO, Maple Leaf Foods
David McKay, president and CEO, Royal Bank of Canada
John Peller, chairman and CEO, Andrew Peller Ltd.
Brian Porter, president and CEO, Scotiabank
Alex Pourbaix, president and CEO, Cenovus Energy
Ian D. Smith, CEO, Clearwater Seafoods
Louis Vachon, president and CEO, National Bank of Canada
Darryl White, CEO, BMO Financial Group
Mark Wiseman, founder, FCLTGlobal
Source: CEOs call on peers to take action on limiting spread of virus in workplaces (Globe and Mail)
