Analysis of the Canadian national corporate social responsibility strategy: Insights and implications

Abstract

Incidences of corporate-community conflict and human rights violation associated with the activities of Canadian extractive companies (CECs) abroad have led to debates at home about the social responsibility of CECs overseas and the role of the Canadian government in corporate social responsibility (CSR). In response to these debates, the Canadian government launched the Canadian national CSR strategy to steer the CSR agenda of CECs. This paper questions and problematizes governmental discourses within the national strategies as a basis for contributing to the debate on the role of government in CSR. We show that the Canadian national CSR strategy embodies the same neoliberal tendencies as the European governmental approach to CSR. However, while the Canadian government's approach to CSR emerged with an emphasis on self-regulation, it has now morphed into a form of enforced self-regulation. Hence, the Canadian government adopts both collaborative and confrontation strategies in its efforts to make self-regulation effective.

Institutional bricolage as an antecedent of social value creation in a developing country's tourism and hospitality industry

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Corporate social responsibility for poverty alleviation: An integrated research framework

“…This is apparent when corruption is extensive (Idemudia, 2011). In the case of multinationals, the government of the country of origin could also promote a pro-poor CSR agenda overseas (Idemudia & Kwakyewah, 2018).…”

Corporate social responsibility and accountability: a new theoretical foundation for regulating CSR

“…A vast literature has focused on the nature, role and the dynamics of corporate social responsibility. More recently, an emerging body of literature is examining the need for regulating CSR and the role of law (Abah, 2016;Amao, 2013;Buhmann, 2006;Buhmann, 2011;Dentchev, Haezendonck, & van Balen, 2017;Idemudia & Kwakyewah, 2018;Malesky & Taussig, 2017;Malesky & Taussig, 2019;Nieto, 2005;Okoye, 2016;Osuji, 2011;Osuji, 2015;Situ, Tilt, & Seet, 2018;Thirarungrueang, 2013). However, imposition of regulation on corporates for CSR faces several challenges in the absence of consensus on the nature of obligations that businesses have under current CSR models.…”