Honest and accurate recording and reporting of information is critical to our ability to make responsible business decisions and to meet our reporting obligations to our stakeholders. This includes both the Company’s financial reporting and ongoing disclosure requirements under applicable securities and stock exchange requirements. The Company’s accounting and other records are relied upon to produce reports for the Company’s management, shareholders, creditors, governmental agencies and others.
Full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in the reports and other documents that we file with, or submit to, securities regulators and stock exchanges and in our other public communications is critical for us to maintain our good reputation, to comply with our obligations under the securities laws and to meet the expectations of our shareholders and other members of the investment community. In preparing such reports and documents and other public communications, the following guidelines should be adhered to:
If any employee, officer or director of the Company has concerns or complaints regarding accounting or auditing issues, he or she is encouraged to submit those concerns to a member of the Audit Committee of the Board.
Business records and communications often become public through legal or regulatory investigations or the media. We should avoid exaggeration, derogatory remarks, legal conclusions or inappropriate characterizations of people and companies. This applies to communications of all kinds, including e-mail and informal notes or interoffice memos. Records should be retained and destroyed in accordance with the Company’s records retention policy in effect from time to time.
XI. | Use of E-Mail and Internet Services |
E-Mail systems and Internet services are provided to help us do work, Incidental and occasional personal use is permitted, but never for personal gain or any improper purpose. You should not access, send or download any information that could be insulting or offensive to another person, such as sexually explicit messages, ethnic or racial slurs, or messages that could be viewed as harassment.
Your messages (including voice mail) and computer information are considered the property of the Company and you should not have any expectation of privacy. Unless prohibited by law, the Company reserves the right to access and disclose this information as necessary for business purposes. Use good judgment, and do not access, send messages or store any information that you would not want to be seen or heard by other individuals.
Violation of these policies may result in disciplinary actions up to and including discharge from the Company.
XII. | Gifts and Entertainment |
Business gifts and entertainment are customary courtesies designed to build goodwill among business partners. These courtesies include such things as meals and beverages, tickets to sporting or cultural events, discounts not available to the general public, travel, accommodation and other merchandise or services. In some cultures they play an important role in business relationships. However, a problem may arise when such courtesies compromise, or appear to compromise, our ability to make objective and fair business decisions. The same rules apply to employees offering gifts and entertainment to our business associates.
Offering or receiving any gift, gratuity or entertainment that influences, or might be perceived to unfairly influence a business relationship, should be avoided.
The value of any gifts should be nominal, both with respect to frequency and amount. Gifts that are repetitive (no matter how small) may be perceived as an attempt to create an obligation to the giver and are therefore inappropriate. Likewise, business entertainment should be moderately scaled and intended only to facilitate business goals. If you are having difficulty determining whether a specific gift or entertainment item lies within the bounds of acceptable business practice, consult your supervisor or a member of senior management and ask yourself whether or not the gift or item is legal, business related, moderate and reasonable, whether or not public disclosures would embarrass the Company, and whether or not there is any pressure to reciprocate or grant special favors.
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XIII. | Payments to Domestic and Foreign Officials |
Employees and officers of the Company must comply with all applicable laws prohibiting improper payments to domestic and foreign officials, including theCorruption of Foreign Public Officials Act(Canada) (the “Act”).
The Act makes it illegal for any person, in order to obtain or retain an advantage in the course of business, directly or indirectly, to offer or agree to give or offer a loan, reward, advantage or benefit of any kind to a foreign public official or to any person for the benefit of a public official. Foreign public officials include persons holding a legislative, administrative or judicial positions of a foreign state, persons who perform public duties or functions for a foreign state (such as persons employed by board, commissions or government corporations), officials and agents of international organizations, foreign political parties and candidates for office.
Although “facilitated payments” or certain other transactions may be exempted or not illegal under applicable law, the Company’s policy is to avoid them. If any employee or officer has any questions about the application of this policy to a particular situation, please report to the President, the Corporate Secretary or such other senior officer as may be designated by the Company from time to time who, with the advice of counsel as necessary, will determine acceptability from both a legal and a corporate policy point of view, and any appropriate accounting treatment and disclosures which are applicable to the particular situation.
Violation of either of the Acts is a criminal offence, subjecting the Company to substantial fines and penalties and any officer, director or employee acting on behalf of the Company to imprisonment and fines. Violation of this policy may result in disciplinary actions up to and including discharge from the Company.
XIV. | Reporting of any Illegal or Unethical behavior |
We have a strong commitment to conduct our business in a lawful and ethical manner. Employees are encouraged to report violations of laws, rules, regulations or this Code to their supervisor or member of senior management. We prohibit retaliatory action against any employee who, in good faith, reports a possible violation. It is unacceptable to file a report knowing it to be false.
XV. | Amendment, Modification and Waivers of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics |
The Code maybe amended or modified by the Board of Directors and waivers maybe granted by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee or a vote of the independent directors of the Board, subject to disclosure and other provisions of applicable securities legislation and stock exchange requirements.
XVI. | Compliance Procedures |
This Code cannot, and is not intended to, address all of the situations you may encounter. There will be occasions where you are confronted by circumstances not covered by policy or procedure and where you must make a judgment as to the appropriate course of action. In
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those circumstances or if you have any questions concerning your obligations under this Code we encourage you to use your common sense, and to contact your supervisor or a member of senior management for guidance. Senior management or directors are encouraged to consult with the President, the Corporate Secretary, or such other senior officer of the Company as may be designated by the Company from time to time.
If you fail to comply with this Code or applicable laws, rules or regulations you will be subject to disciplinary measures, up to and including discharge the Company. Violations of this Code may also constitute violations of law and may result in civil or criminal penalties for you, your supervisors and/or the Company.
You are expected to report all violations of this Code promptly to your supervisor or to the President, Corporate Secretary or such other senior officer of the Company who may be designated from time to time. You may choose to remain anonymous in reporting any possible violation of this Code, and all reports will remain confidential.
This CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS was approved by the Company’s Board of Directors on September 19, 2006.
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