The CEOs and business leaders on the COMPAS business panel see some merit in M.P. John McKay’s Bill C-300 to impose ethical standards on Canadian mining companies operating abroad, but they would much prefer that such legislation cover all sectors, not just mining, and be drawn up by the government.

By an overwhelming margin, panelists believe that no law should single out only one sector, mining, when seeking to impose Canadian ethical standards. By an almost equally large margin, they believe that Canada has an ethical obligation to ensure that our companies behave ethically overseas.

One hint of reservation about legislation enforcing ethical standards on Canadian companies operating overseas comes in response to a question about imposing “our moral standards on other countries,” an issue on which opinion is divided. Another hint of reservation arises from some concern that such legislation would prompt Canadian mining companies to relocate their head offices to other jurisdictions.

These are the key findings from this past week’s Internet survey of CEOs and business leaders on the COMPAS panel. The weekly business survey is undertaken for Canadian Business magazine under sponsorship of BDO Dunwoody LLP.

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