IGOPP’s Executive Chair, Dr. Yvan Allaire’s study on Hedge funds Activism Hedge Fund Activism: Preliminary Results and Some New Empirical Evidence, is quoted in a recent article entitled “Can America’s Companies Survive America’s Most Aggressive Investors?” published in the Atlantic Magazine. This article discusses activist investors who are increasingly gaining control of legacy corporations, forcing them to trim payrolls […]

More than six months after the fact, the sale of Rona to Lowe’s, a U.S. corporation, continues to generate political controversy. This raises the question: how many large Quebec corporations are vulnerable to a foreign takeover with the consequent loss, sooner or later, of the strategic functions associated with their head offices. Such a takeover […]

The Institute for Governance (IGOPP) is pleased to announe the appointment of Ms. Isabelle Courville as a new board member. Ms. Courville, an engineer and a lawyer by training, is Chair of the Board of Directors of the Laurentian Bank of Canada. Previously, Ms. Courville was President of Hydro‐Québec Distribution. This division has 7,000 employees serving […]

The board of the Institute for Governance (IGOPP) unanimously approved a Policy paper on Proxy Access by Shareholders to the Director Nomination Process. The prerogative to nominate the members of the board, which has historically been the sole responsibility of boards of directors, has now been challenged by institutional funds determined to acquire the right, […]

The Executive Chair of the Institute, Dr. Yvan Allaire,  is mentionned in the Wall Street Journal, the MorningstarAdvisor and the Dow Jones Newswires! In an article about the activist hedge funds. “U.S. businesses, feeling heat from activist investors, are slashing long-term spending and returning billions of dollars to shareholders, a fundamental shift in the way […]

On November 14th, Dr. Yvan Allaire, the Executive Chair of the Institute for Governance (IGOPP), was the keynote speaker at The Annual Meeting of the Corporate Governance Center – Conference Board in New-York. I spoke on the topic: Do activist hedge funds create long-term shareholder value? His presentation was followed by a panel discussion with […]

The requirements in credibility, availability and legitimacy of board members have increased substantially since 2000. In that context, directors’ compensation and its impact on their conduct and decisions become salient issues. Yet, directors’ compensation remains a little examined topic of governance. This is why the Institute for Governance (IGOPP) has produced a report prepared by […]

The Institute for Governance (IGOPP) submitted his comments to Industry Canada in response to the Consultation on the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA).. We will examine these issues individually to formulate specific recommendations in each case. In its comment document, the IGOPP covered the following topics: Shareholder advisory votes on compensation packages Diversity of board […]

According to a study made public by the Institute for Governance (IGOPP), Canadian airports, which are public assets with a quasi-monopolistic position in their respective markets should be subjected to an independent review process of their decisions concerning major investments and tariff increases. Ever since Ottawa’s decision to transfer the management of airport facilities to […]

Dr. Yvan Allaire, Executive Chair of the Institute for Governance (IGOPP) and Chair of the Council on the role of business- World Economic Forum, has moderated a session entitled “CEO Dialogue on the Role of Business” organised by the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2014. This session was attended by more than 100 CEO. To […]

On March 13, 2013, the Autorité des marchés financiers and the Canadian Securities Administrators published, for comment, proposed amendments and changes to Multilateral Instrument 62-104 Take-Over Bids and Issuer Bids, National Policy 62-203 Take-Over Bids and Issuer Bids, and National Instrument 62-103 Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues. On March […]

The Executive Chair of the IGOPP’s Board of Directors, Dr. Yvan Allaire, has been appointed Chair of the Council on the role of business in the 21st century. The Global Council brings together some 17 influential leaders from the world of international business, elite universities and the media. Professor Allaire has been a member of […]

Chaviva Hošek is currently a Professor in the School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Toronto. Between 2001 and 2012 she served as President and CEO of The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research. Prior to that she was Director of Policy and Research in the Office of the Prime Minister of Canada, […]

The Institute for Governance (IGOPP) is pleased to announce the receipt of one million dollars from the Jarislowsky Foundation, which brings the Foundation’s total contribution to three million dollars since the creation of the IGOPP in 2005. This gesture shows the confidence of the Jarislowsky Foundation in the IGOPP’s work to improve governance practices in […]

This policy paper makes recommendations to institutional investors as the prime clients of proxy advisors and to securities commissions as the protectors of the integrity of financial markets. For a variety of reasons, proxy advisors have come to exert undue influence on the governance of companies listed on the stock markets and to play a […]

Steve Harvey is the dean of the John Molson School of Business, Concordia University. Steve Harvey is a distinguished scholar and teacher with an exceptional academic and professional record,” says Graham. “He is a dynamic administrator who will be an excellent dean and a great addition to the university’s senior academic leadership. Harvey has been […]