Policies

In reaching the goals of its mandate, Canada Lands respects Government of Canada policies in areas such as official languages, heritage and the environment. It also adheres to its own policies and guidelines.

As a federal Crown corporation and a responsible corporate citizen Canada Lands Company aspires to the highest standards in its ethics, accountability and transparency throughout its business operations. The Company is committed to the following statements and principles in its policy applications.

Accessibility

Canada Lands Company is committed to treating all individuals in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence. The Company believes in integration, equal opportunity, access and participation for people with disabilities and is committed to ensuring a safe, dignified and welcoming environment for everyone. The Company is committed to meeting the needs of persons with disabilities in a timely manner and will do so by ensuring compliance with all applicable federal and provincial accessibility laws and by identifying, preventing and removing barriers to accessibility.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Canada Lands Company encourages a culture that embraces innovation, collaboration, inclusion, diversity and respect and strives to be representative of, and aligned with, the communities that it engages. The Company adheres to the highest standards of ethical behaviour in what it does and how it does it, while considering the financial and non-financial benefits it can generate through its operations.

Diversity and Inclusion

Canada Lands Company is committed to creating a culture that values human dignity, inclusion and a diverse workforce while creating opportunities for personal development and self-fulfilment in the attainment of the Company’s overall mandate. The Company promotes and fosters an environment that respects dignity, individual ideas and beliefs and thereby ensures equity and diversity in employment.

Employee Conduct

Canada Lands Company employees are expected to uphold and enhance the Company's reputation for excellence, integrity and professionalism, to retain public confidence, and to maintain a high-quality work environment.

Company employees are expected to act with loyalty, honesty and integrity; comply with laws, regulations and policies; treat others with respect; promote a positive image of the Company; protect the confidentiality of information; use and protect property and resources appropriately; and avoid conflicts of interest.

Encouraging Competition

Canada Lands Company is subject to any obligations that it may have pursuant to international or national trade agreements (e.g., Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement; Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement). The Company seeks in its business operations to be fair and encourage competition.

Expense Disclosure

Canada Lands Company strives to withstand the highest standards of public scrutiny. It reimburses all appropriate business travel, hospitality, conference and event expenses incurred by employees in the course of carrying out their duties. The Company publicly discloses quarterly expenses for both its senior management team and Board of Directors on its website.

Information Technology Security

Canada Lands Company is committed to protecting the Company's employees, properties, information, reputation and customer’s data assets against all internal, external, deliberate or accidental threats. The security policy will ensure that: 

• Information will be protected from any unauthorized access; 
• Confidentiality of information will be assured; 
• Integrity of information will be maintained;
• Availability of information for business processes will be maintained;
• Legislative and regulatory requirement will be met;
• Disaster recovery plans will be developed, maintained and tested;
• Information security training will be made available for all employees;
• Actual or suspected information security breaches will be reported and investigated.

Health and Safety

Canada Lands Company is committed to ensuring that its employees have a safe and healthy environment in which to work and strives to ensure that its workplace, operations, public areas and projects are in full compliance with all applicable codes, laws and by-laws. Additionally, the Company works to promote health and safety by educating employees on health and safety programs and policies in the workplace through training and knowledge transfer which support the Company’s health and safety guidelines, safe work methods and relevant regulations.

On construction sites, the Company is committed to a high standard of safety for all construction projects taking place on Company-owned or managed workplace sites. The Company complies with the occupational health and safety laws and regulations applicable in each workplace location.

Mental Health and Stress

Canada Lands Company is invested in the ongoing health and safety of employees, which includes mental health and stress management, and detection and awareness of mental health indicators. The Company understands that providing a safe and healthy work environment for employees no longer means the simple prevention and protection from physical injury in the workplace; the emotional and mental well-being of employees must be protected and supported as well. As an organization, we are committed to detection and recognition of the signals and to work towards providing a healthy workplace that places a high value on both the physical and mental wellbeing of employees.

Official Languages

Canada Lands Company is committed to respecting the Official Languages Act and its obligations. The Company is committed to responding to any complaint which may occur from time to time on the application of the Act, whether the complaints come directly from employees, the public or the office of the Commissioner of Official Languages.

Privacy Act

Canada Lands Company is subject to the Privacy Act ("Act").  The purpose of this statute is to protect the privacy of individuals and provide them with a right to access personal information about themselves.

When the Company has personal information under its control, whether the personal information relates to its employees, Board members, residential tenants or the general public, the Company respects the provisions of the Act.

Providing Value to Canadians

Canada Lands Company obtains the optimal value in the sale of its assets by balancing financial returns and community benefits. Price is not the sole determinant and is only one criterion in determining optimal value.

In all the Company’s transactions, it strives to:

• be equitable and transparent;
• encourage the use of competitive processes;
• select reputable purchasers that are well-qualified in their respective areas of expertise;
• require that Company employees conduct their sales activities in a manner consistent with the Canada Lands’ ethics and values;
• and keep appropriate and adequate records of the selection process.

Respect in the Workplace

Canada Lands Company is committed to maintaining a workplace that is free from discrimination, harassment and violence and that fosters inclusion, diversity, mutual respect, cultural sensitivity, dignity and courtesy. These expectations are established to prevent and minimize violence, harassment and unacceptable behaviour (or what “ought to be known” as unacceptable behavior) in the workplace and to promote the inclusion, diversity, safety and security of all individuals. The Company believes that the workplace should always be supportive of the dignity and self-esteem of individuals. Achieving this greatly depends upon mutual respect, cooperation and courtesy amongst directors, officers, employees, representatives, suppliers, contractors, business partners, visitors and guests (collectively, “individuals”). Attitudes and behaviour that undermine this goal challenge the basic rights of individuals. Employees have the right to work at the Company without fear of harassment, discrimination or violence, and every individual has the responsibility to ensure that this requirement is met and to report any violations accordingly.

Training and Development

Canada Lands Company is committed to the development of employees. The Company believes employee development is an essential business investment that enables the maintenance and extension of employees’ knowledge and skills as the business environment evolves. The Company believes in the personal development and growth opportunities for employees, not only to expand their knowledge but to foster a continuous learning environment.

Transparency

Canada Lands Company is subject to and fully adheres to the requirements set out in the federal Access to Information Act ("Act"). The purpose of the Act is to provide a right of access to information in records under the control of a government institution in accordance with the principles that government information should be available to the public, that necessary exceptions to the right of access should be limited and specific and that decisions on the disclosure of government information should be reviewed independently of government.

Working with Indigenous Peoples

Canada Lands Company is committed to respecting and working with Indigenous People across the country. The Company respects the unique Nation-to-Nation relationship between Indigenous Peoples and the Government of Canada and their constitutionally protected rights. Canada Lands invests the time to understand and appreciate the Indigenous groups it works with in order to understand their history, traditions, values, beliefs, aspirations, current issues and concerns, priorities, expectations, etc., and the Company conducts itself in a manner that is mindful of these.