Telus 2011 Annual Report Download - page 35

TELUS 2011 ANNUAL REPORT . 31
.Continuously improving our enterprise risk governance
program by:
.Including Board members in our internal risk assessment
survey
.Assessing perceptions of risk resiliency, appetite and
tolerance, and integrating risk management into key
decision processes
.Evaluating correlations between key risks, such as those
that impact the customer experience
.Securing independent verification of select information in the
TELUS corporate social responsibility (CSR) report
.Complying with the independence definition provisions of the
New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) governance standards
.Sharing publicly our policies on corporate disclosure and
insider trading at telus.com/governance, including the
entire Board policy manual and all Board committees’ terms
of reference.
Growing integrity in the workplace
Recognizing that how we work is as important as what we
do, we strive to ensure all team members adhere to the highest
level of ethics and integrity with all stakeholders. Each year,
we scan the global business and legal environment for leading
practices and new legislation related to ethics, and update
our policy accordingly. In 2011, we enhanced the information
relating to competing fairly and effectively dealing with
governments.
We also updated our mandatory online learning course, TELUS
Integrity 2011, which helps team members and contractors make
effective decisions regarding ethical, respectful workplace,
security and privacy issues. In early 2012, we are implementing
a new supplier code of conduct, which is based on universally
accepted business principles and is consistent with leading
practices around the world.
We continue to provide the Ethics Line for anonymous and
confidential questions or complaints on accounting, internal
controls or ethical issues. Calls are handled by an independent
agency 24 hours a day, offering multi-language services to
internal and external callers.
In 2011, 302 calls were received by the Ethics Line, 265 of
which involved advice on ethical situations or complaints. Each
complaint was investigated, resolved appropriately and reported
to the Human Resources and Compensation Committee and the
Audit Committee. The Ethics Office determined that 65 breaches
of the policy occurred, but none involved fraud by team members
with a significant role in internal controls over financial reporting.
Of all complaints made to our Ethics Office since it began in
2003, no breaches have involved fraudulent financial reporting.
Increasing investor confidence
Keeping investors up to date and informed is a key priority
for TELUS and an integral part of our proactive approach to
investor relations. In 2011, TELUS participated in many investor
activities, including five conference calls and simultaneous
webcasts, four industry conference presentations and several
investor road shows. To view past and upcoming events,
visit telus.com/investors. In 2011, TELUS executives met with
more than 160 institutional investors (comprising the majority
of TELUS shareholdings as well as debt holders and prospective
equity investors) in Canada, the United States and Europe.
In 2011, we continued to receive recognition for excellence in
corporate governance and reporting.
.TELUS was recognized for having the eighth best annual
report in the world by the Annual Report on Annual Reports
in an international review, and is the only company to be in
the top 10 for eight years
.Our 2010 shareholder disclosure package (annual and quar-
terly reporting, sustainability reporting, corporate
governance
disclosure and website) was again ranked as the best in
Canada by the Canadian Institute of Chartered
Accountants
(CICA) in its annual corporate reporting
awards. The TELUS
CSR report was ranked second best
by the CICA.
Scan the code or visit telus.com/governance for a full statement of TELUS’ corporate
governance practices, including disclosure regarding our governance practices compared
to those required by the NYSE, or refer to the TELUS 2012 information circular.