2023-04-13
The Canadian Securities Administrators have amended Policy Statement 58-201 to update corporate governance guidelines for issuers. The revisions introduce specific requirements for nominating committees to manage board succession, adopt composition matrices, and establish written nomination policies based on objective criteria. Additionally, the amendments mandate that boards set diversity objectives and targets, while repealing previous sections and updating gender-neutral language throughout the document.
AMENDMENTS TO POLICY STATEMENT 58-201 TO CORPORATE GOVERNANCE GUIDELINES
2 “Board Renewal “3.11.5. The board should maintain an effective succession plan for directors, which: (a) provides a transparent process and timeline for replacing board members so as to ensure that necessary skills, knowledge, experience, competencies and attributes are maintained; (b) maintains a mix of longer-serving directors with a deep understanding of the issuer and its business and newer directors with fresh ideas and perspectives; and (c) maintains the board’s independence from management. “3.11.6. The board should adopt mechanisms of board renewal that are appropriate to its circumstances. These mechanisms may include: (a) establishing director term limits; (b) assessing the effectiveness of an individual director when proposing the director as a candidate for re-election to the board; and (c) using a composition matrix to identify gaps in the board’s collective skills, knowledge, experience, competencies, attributes and independence. “3.11.7. If an issuer establishes term limits, factors that may be considered include: (a) the board’s current size and composition, and the board’s composition matrix; (b) the board’s independence from management and the issuer’s ownership structure; (c) characteristics of the issuer, including its industry, size and stage of development; and (d) the existence of other mechanisms, such as regular assessments, to ensure the effectiveness of board members. “Diversity and Targets “3.11.8. A board should consider adopting a written diversity policy or process to ensure that recruitment of directors is appropriately structured to promote a broad range of perspectives and experiences on the board. “3.11.9. A board should set objectives for achieving diversity in the composition of its board and officer positions. Mechanisms to achieve these objectives may include setting targets, establishing a diversity council, implementing training and leadership programs, and expanding strategic outreach directed at developing a diverse pipeline of candidates for director and executive officer positions. “3.11.10. For purposes of this Policy, a “target” has the same meaning as in Form 58-101F1 under Regulation 58-101 respecting Disclosure of Corporate Governance Practices. If a board sets targets for the representation of any of the groups referenced in paragraph 6.2 (g) of Form 58-101F1, the board should review and assess the appropriateness of the targets on an annual basis. When considering an appropriate target, a board should consider various factors, including: (a) the board’s current size and composition, and the board’s composition matrix; and
3 (b) characteristics of the issuer, including its industry, size and stage of development, investors, stakeholders and location of its operations.”. 4. Sections 3.12 to 3.14 of the Policy Statement are repealed. 5. Section 3.18 of the Policy Statement is amended: (1) by replacing “his, her”, in the text preceding paragraph (a), by “their”; (2) by replacing paragraphs (a) and (b) by the following: “(a) in the case of the board or a board committee, its mandate or charter, composition and how effectively directors work together to achieve the objectives of the issuer; and “(b) in the case of an individual director, the applicable position description(s), as well as the skills, knowledge, experience, competencies and attributes each individual director is expected to bring to the board.”.