This ACLP Seminar will provide an opportunity for participants to explore with a knowledgeable panel the expectations for ethical behaviour from all participants in projects that are fully or partially financed by public financial institutions. In Canada, the establishment of the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) in 2017 introduces a new source of funding for public infrastructure. The stated purpose of the CIB is “to invest, and seek to attract investment from private sector investors, in infrastructure projects in Canada…that will generate revenue and that will be in the public interest…” THE CIB aspires to establish a strong ethical framework for its activities. The panel will discuss measures that have been established by leading financial institutions such as the World Bank and the European Investment Bank and how these measures might be applied in Canada.
The panelists, who bring diverse perspectives to the discussion, will be asked to address such questions as:
- Who are the players in the financing and execution of candidate infrastructure projects and what are their roles, responsibilities and motives for participating?
- What safeguards are required to ensure that the project screening and approval process is free from bias and undue political influence?
- What are the basic ingredients of a comprehensive ethical framework for public infrastructure banks?
- What are the ethical frameworks used by such institutions as the World Bank and the European Investment Bank for their projects and can they be adapted to Canada?
- What are the motivating factors for participants, and how do they differ from motivating factors for participants in other financing and implementation models?
- How should potential developers, operators, and financiers assess fraud and corruption risks in proposed projects?
This event qualifies for 1.5 CPD credit.
