WORKING TOGETHER TO BUILD BETTER COMMUNITIES - 2018-2019 CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY PLAN - Tarion.com
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WORKING TOGETHER TO BUILD BETTER COMMUNITIES 2018-2019 CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY PLAN
ABOUT
Tarion’s Corporate Social Responsibility Plan for 2018 – 2019
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is an important part This plan’s approach ensures the long-term viability of
of Tarion’s culture. It has a significant impact on staff, our current and newly introduced CSR programs in both
external relationships, and the strategic decisions which economically sound and challenging times.
guide Tarion’s operations and direction.
Strong corporate governance is necessary to provide a
Tarion puts a high priority on fostering sustainability and solid foundation for CSR leadership. To that end, this
integrating meaningful economic, social, and plan also explains how governance and CSR are
environmental considerations into our business practices. interwoven.
This plan serves to highlight Tarion’s progress on
corporate social responsibility and outline further steps
to build upon these achievements.
IMPACT
How Corporate Social Responsibility at Tarion makes an Impact:
Governance Economic Social
Governance has an impact on Tarion’s Tarion makes an economic impact by Tarion makes a social impact through
values, day-to-day business practices, creating efficiencies in the new home its hiring and retention practices,
and policies. A good example is builder registration process, the new commitment to human rights, sound
managing risk for employees, new home warranty process, environmental environmental practices, and
home owners, new home builders, stewardship, and support of community engagement.
and other stakeholders. communities.
Tarion Corporate Social Responsibility Plan 2PRIORITIES
Tarion’s Corporate Social Responsibility Priorities:
Corporate
Governance Stakeholders Employees Environment Communities
The Board of Tarion’s core purpose Tarion aims to Tarion is focused on Tarion aims to
Directors is ultimately is to enhance fairness provide a place reducing its contribute to the
accountable for and confidence in the where talented environmental communities it serves.
Tarion’s actions and new home buying people can thrive footprint.
results through the experience in Ontario. and be good
setting of strategic corporate citizens.
direction and
regulatory priorities.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Highlight of Corporate Social Responsibility Achievements:
Tarion uses best practices and a skills matrix to In 2017, Tarion released an official Diversity &
assist in obtaining the optimal composition for Inclusion policy. This policy formalizes the
the Board of Directors. organization’s longstanding commitment to
developing and maintaining a work environment
To mitigate potential damage from financial or
and human resources practices that ensure
reputational risks, Tarion has implemented a
equality of opportunity in recruitment, selection,
risk-management framework that requires
and promotion. It also commits to removing
management to regularly assess existing risks
systemic barriers so that all employees have
and identify emerging issues affecting Tarion.
equal opportunity to succeed in the workplace.
Tarion conducts an annual Dynamic Capital
Corporate Tarion is a diverse and inclusive workplace, with
Adequacy Test, and voluntarily applies the 63 per cent of employees and 56 per cent of
Governance
Office of the Superintendent of Financial managers being female, and 45 different
Institutions’ Capital Standards to ensure the languages spoken by employees.
corporation maintains strong financial
In 2017, an Environmentally-Conscious Practices
stewardship of the Guarantee Fund, to ensure
and Considerations section was added to
that we are in a stable financial position and able
Tarion’s Procurement Policy asking that staff
to pay out on homeowner claims.
consider environmentally friendly options to
In 2015, Tarion established a Corporate Social minimize negative environmental impacts of
Responsibility team of executives and senior Tarion’s activities.
managers to spearhead Tarion’s CSR initiatives.
Tarion Corporate Social Responsibility Plan 3ACHIEVEMENTS (cont’d)
Tarion established an Ombudsperson’s Office in Public Meetings, publishing an Annual Report,
2008 to act as an independent, impartial and holding CEO-hosted townhall meetings with
confidential department that promotes and homeowners throughout the province, and
protects fairness within Tarion and ensures that holding both in-person stakeholder roundtable
Tarion treats homeowners fairly. discussions and webcasts.
Tarion provides ongoing education for In 2016, Tarion held its first webcast-only Annual
stakeholders through videos, E-HIP, brochures, Public Meeting (APM) in an effort to reach
customer satisfaction feedback, and outreach stakeholders from all areas of the province. It
programs. These focus on educating was so successful, Tarion decided to hold web-
Stakeholders
stakeholders on the warranty process, home cast only APMs for 2017 and 2018. Participation
maintenance, and for new home builders, rates soared with the online format: in 2017,
customer service excellence. more than 1,600 people registered from all over
the province. In 2016, Tarion’s webcast APM
Tarion has increased transparency by increasing
was a finalist for PR Daily’s Corporate Social
and improving the information available to
Responsibility Awards in the category of
consumers about Ontario builders.
Organizational Transparency. In 2017, Tarion
Tarion has promoted transparency and was named winner for the same category.
stakeholder engagement by hosting Annual
Tarion promotes continuous education and To celebrate Tarion’s 40th anniversary in 2016,
training as well as cross-training and cross- Tarion embarked upon a 40 Good Deeds
departmental transfers to increase employee campaign during which Staff were encouraged
flexibility and enhance their skills and knowledge to participate in 40 socially responsible good
base. deeds throughout the year. Additionally, Tarion
set a goal to celebrate 40 Tarion employees for
To encourage staff engagement, Tarion
the charity and community service work they do
established a Tarion Way to Go program, which
outside of the workplace. Tarion employees
can be used at any time to recognize excellence.
surpassed the 40 Good Deeds target: staff
Tarion has also developed a Tarion Ambassador participated in 46 good deeds and 41
program through which employees can add to employees were recognized for their
their skillset and take advantage of valuable contributions to the community.
opportunities to engage with various
Employees As an employer, Tarion encourages staff
stakeholders at both community and industry
participation in CSR initiatives through
events while representing Tarion.
corporately sponsored volunteer time.
In 2016, Tarion introduced an “I Am Tarion” Throughout the course of the 2015-2017 CSR
campaign, featuring a number of Tarion staff in a plan, Tarion employees engaged in more than
video that sought to put a human face to Tarion 1,800 hours of corporately sponsored volunteer
and capture the personal side of what our staff activities.
do every day. The I Am Tarion campaign
Tarion is committed to developing long-lasting
extended to Tarion’s participation in community
relationships with employees. During economic
events, showing that we are proudly supporting
downturns (e.g. 2008), Tarion seeks to reallocate
community activities where we work and live.
employees within the company to avoid layoffs
wherever possible.
Tarion Corporate Social Responsibility Plan 4ACHIEVEMENTS (cont’d)
Tarion has a long-standing commitment to In 2017, Tarion employees from the Toronto,
building energy efficient information technology Ottawa, and London offices took to the streets
infrastructure that reduces our carbon foot print. for an Earth Day community cleanup.
Tarion’s approach to resolving claims has In 2017, Tarion began a digitalization project, to
reduced the mileage in the Warranty Services complete the shift from paper-based file
Department (Tarion’s largest department) by 38 retention to an electronic file retention.
per cent from 2009-2017.
Tarion’s Employee Ecological Committee (TEC)
In 2012, Tarion implemented a three-year focuses on the “green” education of employees
strategy to shift communications and business from both a work and personal perspective by
practices to e-transactions. The strategy has promoting corporate initiatives, including
Environment seen Tarion move from a primarily paper-based reduced use of paper, the use of “green” paper,
organization to adopting technology that cuts an internal green fair and a dedicated intranet
down on paper while meeting the needs of the site.
organization and stakeholders.
In 2016, TEC created a three-week company-
Between 2010-2014, Tarion reduced overall wide challenge to encourage staff to reduce
photocopying by 65 per cent and printing by 47 their carbon footprint. This included a number of
per cent. activities: tracking steps taken during the week
to encourage walking as an environmentally
Tarion participates in a battery recycling drive,
friendly option to transit or driving; a selfie
where employees are encouraged to bring old
challenge exhibiting environmentally conscious
batteries to the office for safe disposal/recycling.
behaviour; and, tracking garbage-free lunch
days. In 2017, TEC raised more than $1,900 for
the World Wildlife Fund by joining together to
climb the CN Tower.
Since 2015, Tarion staff have joined with a local Since 1993, Tarion has supported the dream of
McDonald’s restaurant to participate in home ownership by waiving the enrolment fees
McHappy Day Canada. Staff work the drive of 1,110 homes built by Habitat for Humanity, at
through, hand out orders, and collect donations a total value of more than $590,000.
to raise funds for the Ronald MacDonald House,
Since 2010, Tarion employees have raised funds
Toronto.
to participate in an annual Habitat for Humanity
Since 1994, Tarion has raised almost $800,000 build.
for the Children’s Wish Foundation through its
Communities As a corporation, Tarion supports the build
annual charity golf tournament.
annually, by granting a group of employees with
Since 2008, Tarion’s employee-led committee paid leave to participate in the building process.
(Tarion Cares), has raised more than $103,000
Tarion employee volunteers travelled to the
for local charities. The committee also holds
Dominican Republic in 2011 for a charitable
seasonal toy and clothing drives, and collects
home build. As a corporation, Tarion supported
milk bags for a street ministry run by a Tarion
this initiative by providing paid leave for those
employee.
participating.
Tarion Corporate Social Responsibility Plan 5GOALS
Tarion’s Goals for 2018-2019:
In accordance with best practices in board governance, Tarion will continue to foster an
environment that will encourage diversity and be representative of the province in which it
Corporate operates.
Governance
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
Stakeholders
set forth in this plan may not be directed at stakeholders but may have a positive impact on them.
Tarion is committed to supporting volunteer activities that serve the communities in which we live
and work. To this end, Tarion will explore the feasibility of a corporate volunteerism policy to
further support employees in their commitments to community and charitable causes.
Employees
Tarion will continue to focus on ways to educate staff about sustainability and how we can
incorporate sustainability practices in our corporate environment and 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
Environment
footprint.
Tarion will complete the transition from paper-based file retention to a digital file retention.
Tarion will continue to demonstrate its commitment to communities through fundraising efforts
undertaken by the Tarion Cares Committee, and through its annual commitments to charities like
the Children’s Wish Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, and McHappy Day Canada.
Habitat for Humanity will continue to be one of Tarion’s primary corporate charities. Support for
Communities Habitat for Humanity and other homes built by charities will continue through waived enrolment
fees.
Acknowledging the many lives touched by cancer, Tarion will participate in the 2018 Bright Run in
support of local cancer research funding in Hamilton.
Tarion Corporate Social Responsibility Plan 6PARTNERS
Tarion’s Corporate Social Responsibility Partners:
TARION STAFF
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
Tarion Cares humanitarian not-for-profit organizations (NFPOs).
Tarion’s Ecological Committee (TEC) was formed in September 2009 to consider, evaluate, and
Tarion provide recommendations on issues affecting the environment. The internal committee is made
Ecological up of employees from across all departments.
Committee
CORPORATE CHARITIES
The Children’s Wish Foundation helps Canadian children, families, and communities by granting
Children’s the favourite wish of a child diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. With every wish granted,
Wish moments of joy are created that ease the pain of a child, give respite to the child’s family, and
Foundation connect healthcare professionals and communities in that burning wish of hope. The Children’s
of Canada Wish Foundation has been granting wishes since 1984.
Habitat for Humanity’s mission is to mobilize volunteers and community partners to build
affordable housing and promote homeownership as a means to breaking the cycle of poverty. Its
Habitat for core values include the belief that access to safe, decent and affordable housing is a basic human
Humanity right that should be available to everyone.
Canada
The first Wednesday in May each year, McDonald's restaurants across the country host McHappy
Day, an annual celebration of giving to support Ronald McDonald House Charity and local
McHappy charities. Since 1977, McHappy Day has raised more $56 million for the Ronald McDonald House
Day Canada Charity and community projects across Canada.
The Bright Run is a non-competitive run/walk to raise money for cancer research. Since 2008,
more than $2.8 million has been raised and 15 innovative research projects have been funded at
the Juravinski Cancer Centre in Hamilton thanks to the event. The Juravinski Cancer Centre is the
Bright Run hub for breast cancer treatment in Hamilton, Haldimand, Burlington, Brant, Norfolk and Niagara.
Tarion Corporate Social Responsibility Plan 7You can also read
