TURNING THE GREAT WHITE NORTH GREEN: GE CANADA'S

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 OTTAWA 001134

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAN AND EEB/EPPD NSMITH-NISSLEY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON BEXP EINV ETRD ELAB KSEP SENV AMGT
SUBJECT: TURNING THE GREAT WHITE NORTH GREEN: GE CANADA'S
NOMINATION FOR SECRETARY'S AWARD FOR CORPORATE EXCELLENCE

REF: STATE 47222


1. (U) Summary: General Electric (GE) Canada is a model of
corporate excellence. While GE Canada's performance in all
eight criteria for the Secretary's Award for Corporate
Excellence (ACE) is impressive, GE Canada's work in
environmental stewardship, corporate citizenship, and legal
compliance is particularly noteworthy and makes GE Canada a
strong candidate for the ACE in the multinational category.
End Summary.

GE Canada - An Environmental Leader
--------------


2. (U) Two years ago, GE launched "Ecomagination" - a
worldwide campaign designed to use ecologically sound
products and services to drive business growth. The
following examples show how GE Canada is helping to meet GE's
global targets to grow R&D in cleaner technologies:
- GE Motors in Peterborough, Ontario produces high
performance traction motors for the GE Evolution series
locomotives. Compared to locomotives built 20 years ago,
many of which are still in use, these engines produce 83%
fewer particulates and 60% fewer nitrogen oxide emissions,
while delivering higher fuel efficiency and as much as 10%
lower lifecycle costs to customers. Canada's CN and CP Rail
both use GE's environmentally advanced locomotives.
- The Halton, Ontario Landfill Gas Project produces 17,000
MWh/year from methane gas and reduces greenhouse gas
emissions. This project is made possible by using 2 GE
Jenbacher engines.
- GE Energy Financial Services is investing C$112 million in
the construction of a run-of-river hydroelectric project in
British Columbia. The project will help ensure that British
Columbia continues to generate at least 90% of its energy
from clean or renewable sources, will produce enough
electricity annually to power an estimate 75,000 houses and
will avoid the production of more than 455,000 metric tons of
greenhouse gas emissions.
- GE is installing a Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design (LEED) certified Zenon membrane system to treat
waste-water at the Olympic Broadcast building in Vancouver.
Water treated by this membrane system will be recycled for
re-use.


3. (U) In short, GE is showing that responsible environmental
stewardship is not just good for the planet but also good for
the bottom line. GE Canada Executives frequently speak on
advancing responsible environmental management and business
practices in leading Canadian public policy discussions such
as sessions organized by the CD Howe Institute, the Prime
Minister's Roundtable on the Environment and Economy, and the
Canadian Council of Chief Executives.

GE Canada - A Model for Compliance
--------------


4. (U) In the "Financial Times" annual World's Most Respected
Companies List, GE is ranked first for Corporate Governance.
All GE employees read and sign GE's "Spirit and the Letter"
internal governance document, which covers expectations for
integrity, code of conduct, personal commitment, business
policies and procedures, how to raise concerns, penalties for
violations, working with customers and suppliers, government
business, competing globally, and applicable laws. The
internal governance document is supported by on-line training.

GE Canada - Solid Corporate Citizenship
--------------


5. (U) In addition to investing more than $50 million
annually in philanthropic initiatives around the world, GE
also encourages employees to volunteer their time for
charitable causes. For example:
Qcharitable causes. For example:
- GE Canada is a cornerstone partner with Actua - a Canadian
organization that offers science and technology programs to
225,000 young people each year through camp and in-school
learning. Targeted groups include inner city children and
young women, and 10,000 of the youth reached are aboriginal.
- GE Canada Mississauga won the United Way's Outstanding
Corporate Campaign Award in 2006 for its participation in
raising funds for the United Way.
- GE Canada's Day of Empowerment supports women's shelters
in Peel, Ontario providing instruction for women who are
victims of abuse on applying for jobs, managing finances,
fitness, nutrition, and health.

Visit our shared North American Partnership blog (Canada & Mexico) at
http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap


OTTAWA 00001134 002 OF 002


WILKINS