How Corporate Social Responsibility at Tarion makes an Impact: Economic

Transcription

1

2 About for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is an important part of Tarion s cultural identity. It has significant impact on our stakeholder relationships and the strategic decisions which guide Tarion s operations and direction. Integrating meaningful economic, social and environmental considerations into our business practices and fostering a culture of sustainability is a priority at Tarion. This plan serves to formalize the previous commitments made by Tarion toward social corporate responsibility. It will also pave the way for Tarion to integrate further economic, social and environmental considerations into both business practices and strategic directions. This plan s approach serves to ensure that the CSR programs already in place and the new ones introduced are viable over the long term and that Tarion is able to fulfill its CSR commitments in both economically sound and challenging times. Strong corporate governance is necessary to provide a solid foundation for CSR leadership. To that end, this plan also details how governance and CSR are intertwined. How Corporate Social Responsibility at Tarion makes an Impact: Governance Governance describes the impact of Tarion s values, day to day business practices and policies such as managing risk for employees, new homeowners, new home builders and other stakeholders. Economic Tarion makes an economic impact by creating efficiencies in the new home builder registration process, the new home warranty process, environmental stewardship and support of communities. Social Tarion makes a social impact through its hiring and retention practices and commitment to human rights, sound environmental practices and to the communities it serves. 2

3 Priorities Tarion s Corporate Social Responsibility Priorities: Corporate Governance Stakeholders Employees Environment Communities The Board of Directors is ultimately accountable for Tarion s actions and results through the setting of strategic direction and regulatory priorities. Tarion s core purpose is to enhance fairness and confidence in the new home buying experience in Ontario. Tarion aims to provide a place where talented employees can thrive. Tarion takes an integrated approach to reducing its environmental footprint. Tarion aims to contribute to the Ontario communities it serves. Highlight of Existing Corporate Social Responsibility Achievements: Corporate Governance Tarion has implemented best practices and a skills matrix to assist in obtaining the optimal composition for the Board of Directors. To mitigate the potential damages from financial or reputational risks, Tarion has implemented a risk management framework that requires management to regularly assess existing risks and identify emerging issues impacting Tarion. Stakeholders Tarion established an Ombudsperson s Office in 2008 to act as an independent, impartial and confidential department that promotes and protects fairness within Tarion. Tarion provides ongoing education for stakeholders through videos, E-HIP, brochures, customer satisfaction feedback and outreach programs which are focused on educating stakeholders on the warranty process, home maintenance, and for new home builders, customer service excellence. Employees Tarion is committed to developing long lasting relationships with employees. During economic down turns e.g. 2008, Tarion seeks to reallocate employees within the company to avoid layoffs wherever possible. Tarion promotes continuous education and training, cross training and cross departmental transfers to increase employee flexibility and enhance employee engagement. Environment In 2012, Tarion implemented a three year strategy to shift communications and business practices to e-transactions. The strategy has seen Tarion move from a primarily paper-based organization to adopting technology that best meets the needs of the organization and stakeholders. Communities Since 1994, Tarion has raised more than $700,000 for the Children s Wish Foundation through its annual charity golf tournament. Since 2008, Tarion s employee-led committee (Tarion Cares), has raised more than $56,000 for 55 local charities. The committee has also held seasonal toy and clothing drives. 3

4 (cont d) Highlight of Existing Corporate Social Responsibility Achievements: Corporate Governance Stakeholders Employees Environment Communities Tarion established a risk capacity framework, conducts annual Dynamic Capital Adequacy Test, and voluntarily applies the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Capital Standards to ensure the corporation maintains a stable financial position with strong financial stewardship of the Guarantee Fund. Tarion has increased transparency through enhancing the type of information available to the public about their builders. Tarion has increased transparency by consulting with both stakeholders and the general public on policy changes. Tarion has increased transparency and stakeholder engagement by hosting Annual Public Meetings, publishing an Annual Report, implementing CEO-hosted Evenings of Conversation with homeowners throughout the province, and implementing stakeholder roundtable discussions. Tarion and its management support flexible work arrangements and promote a healthy work/ life balance. Tarion recognizes employee service excellence and innovation through annual award programs. Tarion has also implemented a Tarion Way To Go program, which can be used to recognize excellence at any time. To encourage dialogue and increase engagement, Tarion has implemented employee roundtable discussions where the CEO meets quarterly with a cross section of employees to provide updates and encourage open feedback. Tarion has implemented a Tarion Ambassador program whereby employees can increase their skill sets and have valuable opportunities to engage with various stakeholders while representing Tarion. Tarion s Employee Ecological Committee (TEC) focuses on the green education of employees from both a work and personal perspective and encourages corporate initiatives including the reduction of paper, the use of green paper, education opportunities like an internal green fair and a dedicated intranet site. In 2009, Tarion introduced energy efficient information technology infrastructure to reduce carbon foot print. Since 2010, Tarion has reduced overall photocopying by 65 per cent and printing by 47 per cent. Tarion s Work the File approach has reduced the mileage in the Warranty Services Department (Tarion s largest department) by 42 per cent from Please see Appendix A for a listing of further environmental initiatives undertaken by Tarion and a sample of Tarion s carbon savings. Since 2010, Tarion employees have raised funds to participate in an annual Habitat for Humanity build. As a corporation, Tarion supports the build by granting a group of employees with paid leave to participate in the building process. Since 2005, Tarion has waved the enrollment fees for 786 Habitat for Humanity and other charity-built houses, at a value of $400,000. In 2011 six Tarion employee volunteers provided building expertise for a charitable home built in the Dominican Republic. As a corporation, Tarion supported this initiative by providing paid leave for the employee volunteers. In 2014, Tarion employees contributed 642 corporate supported volunteer hours to social and environmental causes. 4

5 Goals Goals for : Corporate Governance Tarion will create a Social Responsibility Lead Team comprised of executives and senior managers to spearhead Tarion CSR initiatives. In accordance with best practices in board composition governance, Tarion will create an environment that will encourage diversity and is representative of the province in which it operates. Tarion will consider implementing a socially responsible investment policy. Stakeholders Tarion will continue to search for ways to increase transparency for stakeholders and encourage increased stakeholder engagement. As a corporation, Tarion believes that its policies should, in a fair and balanced manner, be shaped by input from those who are most directly impacted by those policies. This plan also recognizes that many of the other goals and social responsibility measures set forth in this plan may not be directed at stakeholders, but may have a positive impact on them. Employees Tarion seeks to engage employees and promote their continued learning. In support of this, Tarion will introduce volunteerism as a skill development for employees. To this end, Tarion will work to encourage employees to broaden their skill development through volunteer opportunities that support their career goals. Environment Tarion will continue to focus on ways to educate the staff regarding sustainability and how we can incorporate sustainability practices in our corporate environment as well as in our personal lives. The Tarion Ecological Committee will focus on becoming ambassadors of technology and demonstrating how employees can embrace technology and use it to reduce Tarion s carbon footprint. Communities Tarion will continue to demonstrate its commitment to communities through the Tarion Cares committee and through its annual commitment to the Children s Wish Foundation. The Children s Wish Foundation and Habitat for Humanity will continue to be Tarion s primary corporate charities. Support for Habitat for Humanity and other charity-built homes will continue through waived enrolment fees. 5

6 Partners TARION CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY PARTNERS CORPORATE CHARITIES Children s Wish Foundation of Canada The Children s Wish Foundation helps Canadian children, families and communities by granting the favourite wish of a child diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. With every wish granted, moments of joy are created that ease the pain of a child, give respite to the child s family, and connect healthcare professionals and communities in that burning wish of hope. The Children s Wish Foundation has been granting wishes since Habitat for Humanity Canada Habitat for Humanity s mission is to mobilize volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting homeownership as a means to breaking the cycle of poverty. Their core values include the belief that access to safe, decent and affordable housing is a basic human right that should be available to everyone TARION STAFF Tarion Cares Tarion Cares is an employee committee established to promote employee social responsibility, encompassing Tarion s commitment to its business values by raising funds in support of various humanitarian Not-for-Profit organizations (NFPOs). Green-E Tarion Ecological Committee Tarion Ecological Committee Tarion s Ecological Committee (TEC) was formed in September 2009, to consider, evaluate and provide recommendations on issues affecting the environment. The internal committee is composed of cross-departmental employees. 6

7 INTERNAL INITIATIVES Paperless Work Environment Office Supplies and Fixtures Operational ECOLOGICAL MEASURES UNDERTAKEN BY TARION: Warranty Services and Enforcement field staff are equipped with tablets that can be used when in the field instead of filing hard copy reports Many staff have tablets that can be taken to meetings to record notes Field staff who work from home operate in a printer-free environment Corporate office has follow me printing which means that documents are only printed once an employee logs into the printer (reducing duplicate print jobs) All programs are defaulted to print double-sided Dish soap and dishwasher detergent were switched to a biodegradable phosphatefree formulas Replaced coffee service with a service that provides recyclable coffee pods Replaced plastic stir sticks with wooden stir sticks Replaced Styrofoam cups with coffee mugs and glasses Discouraged the use of bottled water. Ongoing replacement of old appliances with Energy Star appliances Ensured all monitors are energy efficient LEDs Provided employees who work from home with power bars to conserve energy Members of Greater Toronto Civic Action Alliance s Race to Reduce group Tarion has an Ecological Committee that meets regularly to generate ideas and provide recommendations When designing new office spaces, Tarion ensured that we would have the capacity to control lighting in offices and meeting rooms so they would be turned off when not occupied Staff are asked to turn their monitors off when they leave the office Ongoing monitoring and reorganizing of recycling and composting systems to optimize employee participation Participation in waste audits in conjunction with building management Reorganized Warranty Services staff into geo teams, which means less commuting to and from inspections. Staff who work from home are encouraged to join meetings via teleconference where appropriate Replaced hard copy pay stubs with electronic pay stubs and T4s. Less bottled water: Fewer travel miles: Adoption of electronic pay stubs and T4s: 82.8 kgs 90 metric tonnes 148 lbs. 7

8 (cont d) ECOLOGICAL MEASURES UNDERTAKEN BY TARION: EXTERNAL INITIATIVES Paperless Initiative MyHome Reduced amount of hard copy publications printed Directed stakeholders to Tarion.com for information and publications Provided the Homeowner Information Package in electronic format and made regulatory changes to allow electronic distribution to homeowners Transitioned from hard copy and online Construction performance Guidelines to online only Replaced DVDs with online educational video series Homeowners can: Submit forms electronically Receive and send electronic correspondence through MyHome Upload photos and other documents for Tarion s review BuilderLink Builders can now: Complete the Online Certificate of Completion and Possession process instead of hard copy Register and renew their registrations online Send electronic fund transfers for enrolment and registration fees Complete enrolments online Receive and send electronic correspondence to Tarion instead of hard copy Upload forms, images, documents to Tarion MyHome for Common Elements Designates are able to: Submit online warranty forms and condominium documents to Tarion Receive reminders and notifications of important dates and warranty timelines Store important condominium documents electronically Directly access the Tarion Common Element Portal (CE Portal) for online updating of the Performance Audit Tracking Summary Receive e-correspondence and communicate electronically with Tarion. 8