A group of Canadian CEOs released an open letter to the public on Monday about the growing concerns over the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
Here is the letter in its entirety and the list of all those who signed on can be found here:
The organizations and employers we represent compete fiercely every day. Today we stand
united in a shared battle against COVID-19.
We urge every leader in the country to immediately shift focus to the singular objective of
slowing the pace of transmission of this coronavirus.
International experience demonstrates that social distancing is the only effective method, and is
in the best interests of our employees, their families and our communities.
While this will have significant economic impact on our businesses in the short term, it is critical
to weathering this storm and will hasten the recovery.
Governments across the country have acted yet these measures will only be effective if all
employers step up and do their part to protect the nation’s health and welfare.
The undersigned have taken important steps and urge your organizations to join us:
Urge your employees to stop all non-essential travel, whether for personal or business
reasons. Travel exposes people to infection, increasing risk for their personal and
professional contacts.
Enable your employees to practice social distancing. Facilitate work-from-home for all
non-critical business functions. Work with government, if necessary, to ensure sick pay
for workers. Cancel any in-person gatherings or events. Ensure that mental-health
services are in place to support those in need during a period of social isolation.
Maintain essential services to Canadians. In coordination with government, develop
clear guidelines to protect the health of employees who provide critical services to the
public.
Understand that your employees are looking to you for leadership and trusted
information in turbulent times. Share trusted advice from public health agencies and
communicate consistently and clearly with your employees. Recap the latest guidance
and show them what you’re doing to support it.
On behalf of all of us, including millions of colleagues and employees, thank you to all
healthcare workers on the front lines on whom we are relying to help us through this
emergency. We have enormous respect and gratitude for your efforts.
Confirmed Signatories – CEO Letter COVID-19 – Updated as at 11:20 a.m. March 16
1. Wendy Andrushko, President, DuPont Canada
2. Charles Brindamour, Chief Executive Officer, Intact Financial Corporation Neil
Chrystal, President and CEO, Polygon Homes
3. Dean Connor, President and CEO, Sun Life
4. Neil Cunningham, CEO and President of Public Sector Pension Investment
Board (PSP)
5. Dennis Darby, President and CEO, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters
6. Paul Desmarais III, Chairman and CEO of Sagard Holdings
7. Victor Dodig, President and CEO, CIBC
8. Charles Emond, President and CEO, Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec
(CDPQ)
9. Gordon J. Fyfe, CEO, British Columbia Investment Management Corporation
10. Russ Girling, President and CEO, TC Energy
11. Tim Gitzel, President and CEO, Cameco
12. Roy Gori, President and CEO, Manulife Financial
13. Blake Hutcheson, President, OMERS
14. Goldy Hyder, President and CEO, Business Council of Canada
15. Hassan Khosrowshahi, Chairman, Persis Holdings Ltd.
16. Michael Latimer, CEO of OMERS
17. Don Lindsay, President and CEO, Teck Resources
18. Chuck Magro, President and CEO, Nutrien
19. Dr. Mark Machin, President and CEO, CPP Investments
20. Bharat Masrani, Group President and CEO, TD Bank Group
21. Michael McCain, President and CEO, Maple Leaf Foods
22. David McKay, President and CEO, Royal Bank of Canada
23. Al Monaco, President and CEO, Enbridge
24. John Peller, Chairman and CEO, Andrew Peller Limited
25. Brian Porter, President and CEO, Scotiabank
26. Alex Pourbaix, President and CEO, Cenovus Energy
27. Ian D. Smith, CEO, Clearwater Seafoods
28. Geoff Smith, President and CEO, Ellis Don
29. Louis Vachon, President and CEO, National Bank of Canada
30. Darryl White, CEO, BMO Financial Group
31. Mark Wiseman, Founder, FCLTGlobal
