Performance overview: Engagement and community relations

Engagement is an important component of our corporate citizenship strategy. Our engagement efforts help us to identify and shape the way we address the most significant issues related to our financial, social and environmental performance.

Overview

What we said we were going to do in 2009

  • Engage community groups on proposed expansion of our Cold Lake operation and our exploration plans in northeastern British Columbia and the Beaufort Sea
  • Continue to consult with regional Aboriginal groups and northern communities on the Mackenzie gas project
  • Consult with stakeholders on follow-up items related to the Kearl project
  • Develop action-based performance measures for consultation, workforce development, business development and community relations
  • Drive consistency and apply best practices through our Aboriginal relations network

What we did in 2010

  • Continued to conduct consultation in our growth areas
  • Made progress in advancing benefits and access agreements with Aboriginal groups along the proposed Mackenzie gas project route
  • Introduced a corporate Aboriginal consultation protocol for managers and leaders who work with Aboriginal stakeholders
  • Invested $2.5 million to support the creation of a national leadership program for First Nations, Métis and Inuit women
  • Increased the focus on programs we support that promote education, environment and civic and community causes

What we plan to do

  • Use the traditional land use study findings to minimize our footprint during planning and construction of our Horn River project
  • Increase the representation of Aboriginal employees at Imperial
  • Encourage capacity building in Aboriginal communities and support the development of contracts to Aboriginal and local businesses
  • Conduct Aboriginal cultural awareness training for 4,000 employees and contractors at our Kearl project
  • Promote our Indigenous Women in Community Leadership program in the areas where we operate
  • Continue to promote community programs with an emphasis on education, environment, and civic and community causes