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Verra-t-on le jour où les actionnaires se prononceront annuellement sur les politiques environnementales des grandes sociétés cotées en Bourse ? Cette proposition du Mouvement d’éducation et de défense des actionnaires (MÉDAC) obtient l’appui de plusieurs investisseurs, mais elle ne fait pas l’unanimité. Le président-directeur général de l’Institut sur la gouvernance d’organisations privées et publiques (IGOPP), François Dauphin, croit que le vote consultatif, qui a souvent un fort taux d’appui, n’est pas une bonne manière de mobiliser les entreprises sur un enjeu. « Une fois que les actionnaires se sont prononcés en faveur de la politique environnementale, il n’y a plus lieu de faire d’efforts supplémentaires », selon lui. Il donne l’exemple des votes consultatifs sur la rémunération, qui n’a pas eu de conséquences sur la rémunération des hauts dirigeants. « Ça n’a pas eu l’effet escompté de réduire ou de contraindre la rémunération des hauts dirigeants, juge-t-il. Au contraire, ça a continué de s’enflammer. » « On a peur que le même principe s’applique au climat », ajoute-t-il.
The European Union formally approved on Thursday a 90-billion-euro ($105-billion) loan to Ukraine and new sanctions against Russia, ahead of an informal summit of the bloc's leaders in Cyprus which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will attend. The loan is set to cover two-thirds of Ukraine's needs for the next two years. Economists had said Ukraine would start to run out of money by June if the EU loan was not disbursed by then, requiring deep cuts to public services. "We are on our way to Cyprus with good news," European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said.
SpaceX is telling prospective investors its board will not need a majority of directors who are independent of the company, according to an excerpt of its IPO filing reviewed by Reuters, underscoring how founder Elon Musk is retaining control of the rocket and artificial intelligence maker. In a departure from the vast majority of public companies, SpaceX said it would maintain "controlled company status" after its $1.75 trillion IPO, expected this summer. That means it will not need a majority of it board to be independent, nor need independent compensation and nominating committees, the filing excerpt showed. It only must have an audit committee composed entirely of independent directors, the document stated.
Former Alberta premier Jason Kenney warned that while he believes the province’s secessionist movement isn’t likely to succeed, national unity could soon face a serious stress test if frustration with Ottawa drives more people to reject federalism. Onstage at The Globe and Mail’s Intersect 2026 conference in Toronto on Wednesday, Mr. Kenney described Quebec’s five-decade-long sovereignty debate as a “sterile, pointless political civil war” that has devastated its economy. He said Alberta would likely march down the same path if independence gathers even minority support on a potential fall referendum ballot. “If they get enough of these frustrated federalists voting for leverage and you get, I don’t know, 20-, 30-, 35-per-cent yes, that creates a permanent divisive fact in our politics,” Mr. Kenney said in response to a question by Globe columnist Andrew Coyne.
Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon says the government is closely following whether Canadian airlines will pass along savings to consumers from a gas tax suspension, but he could not guarantee they would. In response to volatile oil prices amid U.S.-Iran tensions, the federal government is suspending the federal fuel excise tax on gas and diesel until Labour Day. This means an excise tax of four cents per litre on aviation fuel and 10 cents per litre on unleaded aviation gasoline will be temporarily paused. Speaking to CTV’s Power Play with Vassy Kapelos on Wednesday, MacKinnon would not answer directly on whether the federal government secured any reassurances from airlines that any cost relief would be passed onto consumers.
Microsoft's LinkedIn named Chief Operating Officer Daniel Shapero as its new CEO, tapping a veteran of the professional networking site to lead it through an era of AI-driven change. Shapero, who joined LinkedIn in 2008 as a general manager for the LinkedIn Research Network, will replace Ryan Roslansky as CEO. The leadership shake-up, effective immediately, comes as LinkedIn looks to deepen its role at the center of an AI-transformed workforce. The platform boasts more than 1.3 billion members and accounted for 6.3% of Microsoft's annual revenue in 2025. "AI is going to transform how people work and grow in their careers faster than most people expect," Roslansky said. The company also appointed Mohak Shroff president of Platforms & Digital Work.
Woodside Energy Chief Executive Liz Westcott survived a major shareholder revolt over her pay on Thursday, with Australian pension fund HESTA saying it had voted against her multi-million-dollar package and against two directors' re-appointments.
Over a third of shareholders at the company's protest-hit annual general meeting in Perth voted against her bonus package and another 18% voted against the remuneration report. The company asked shareholders to approve a package of up to A$14.8 million ($10.57 million) and a grant of equity rights for Westcott following her promotion to the top job in March. She had served in a provisional role since December when her predecessor Meg O'Neill left to lead BP.
Lululemon Athletica Inc. is putting its trust in a former Nike executive after facing months of backlash about the company’s management and performance. The Vancouver-based athleisure retailer announced Wednesday that Heidi O’Neill will become its next chief executive officer on Sept. 8, when she will also join its board. The company said she was chosen for the role because of her experience, “success delivering breakthrough ideas and initiatives at scale, and her ability to be a knowledgeable change and growth agent.” “Heidi is an inspiring leader and proven, consumer-driven brand strategist, with a rare ability to both imagine a new future for a brand and to create the structure and processes to deliver on that vision,” Lululemon executive board chair Marti Morfitt said in a statement.
Some small Canadian exporters may now be able to get money back on U.S. tariffs they paid over the past year, but only if they meet specific conditions, and the process can be complicated. The guidance, outlined by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), comes as the U.S. rolls out a new refund system following a court ruling. Here’s what you need to know:
Iran seized two container ships seeking to exit the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday after firing on them and another vessel, in its first seizures since war with the United States and Israel began in February. Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported the seizures and added its Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy had also warned that any disruption to order and safety in the strait would be considered a "red line". The IRGC accused the seized ships, the Panama-flagged MSC Francesca and Liberia-flagged Epaminondas, of operating without required permits and tampering with their navigation systems.
EU ambassadors approved on Wednesday the disbursement of a promised 90 billion euro ($106 billion) loan to Ukraine as well as a new package of sanctions against Russia, after Hungary lifted its veto, the bloc's Cypriot presidency said. The European Union's 27 member states are now expected to sign off on the deal by Thursday afternoon, a spokesperson for the Cypriot presidency added. The EU agreed last year on the loan to keep Ukraine liquid through 2026 and 2027. But Hungary refused to sign off on the deal as Russia-friendly Prime Minister Viktor Orban accused Ukraine of sabotaging the transit of Russian oil through a pipeline damaged by Russian attacks.
“It’s a crazy crop, and a crazy market,” says Belinda Borck, public affairs lead at Tony’s Chocolonely, reflecting on the rollercoaster ride that cocoa prices have experienced over the last three years.
From an average price of around $3,000 a tonne, prices quadrupled to $12,000 a tonne by the end of 2024, only to drop back to pre-hike levels today. This volatility has left the millions of smallholder farmers who grow 80%-90% of the world’s cocoa reeling, as manufacturers cut back on the size of the chocolate bars they produce, and the amount of cocoa they use, while consumers buy less chocolate. A previous glut has also left farmers with unsold stockpiles of beans, while state regulators in key producing nations such as Ghana and Ivory Coast, which set cocoa prices, have struggled to keep up with the volatility, recently setting high farmgate prices that cocoa buyers have shunned.
Le gouvernement fédéral présente un projet de loi visant à soutenir les lancements spatiaux au Canada. Le ministre des Transports, Steven MacKinnon, a déclaré mardi aux journalistes que le Canada était le seul pays du G7 à ne pas disposer de capacités de lancement spatial. À l'heure actuelle, nous devons compter sur des pays étrangers, le plus souvent les États-Unis, pour mettre en orbite les satellites canadiens, a-t-il expliqué. Lors d'une séance d'information technique, les responsables ont affirmé que ces nouvelles règles permettront de lancer dans l'espace des satellites et des fusées depuis le sol canadien.
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Britain's King Charles heads to the United States next week for the most high-profile trip of his reign so far, on a mission to shore up the future of the two allies' "special relationship" which the Iran war has plunged to its lowest point in 70 years. The state visit marks the 250th anniversary of the U.S. declaration of independence from British rule, when the then 13 American colonies decided to split from King George III, Charles's five-times-great-grandfather. For Charles, it will be a moment to reflect on how Britain and the United States have come together since then to forge some of the world's closest security, military and economic ties, while for U.S. President Donald Trump it will be another chance to indulge his love of the British royals.
European Union leaders will discuss the bloc's mutual assistance clause at a summit in Cyprus on Thursday, as U.S. President Donald Trump's criticism of traditional allies raises concerns over his commitment to NATO at a time of growing insecurity. The clause, contained in the treaty that underpins the EU, obliges countries to come to the aid of a fellow member if it comes under attack. But officials say there are currently no clear rules about how it should work in practice. Worries about Trump's criticism of NATO for failing to back the United States' war with Iran along with his threats earlier this year to seize Greenland from ally Denmark have created greater urgency to more clearly define the EU's mutual assistance provisions.
The Supreme Court of Canada ruled Wednesday that a Quebec law delaying the adoption of a new electoral map is unconstitutional. Chief Justice Richard Wagner announced the 7-2 ruling in the afternoon, after the top court heard the case in the morning. Quebec’s next provincial election is on Oct. 5. The Supreme Court will publish its reasons at a later date. The ruling upholds a judgment last December from the Quebec Court of Appeal. The case on the composition of Quebec’s 125 ridings and who has the final say on the boundaries illustrates the political tension over population declines in some regions and gains in others. Any changes must ensure all votes are accorded what a 1991 Supreme Court precedent called “effective representation.”
La flambée des prix du kérosène a contraint une nouvelle compagnie aérienne canadienne à réduire son programme de vols. Transat annonce qu’elle supprimera des centaines de vols prévus en raison des chocs énergétiques provoqués par la guerre au Moyen-Orient. L’entreprise montréalaise, propriétaire d’Air Transat, indique mercredi qu’elle réduira sa capacité de 6 % de mai à octobre, période qui couvre la saison estivale, cruciale pour le transport aérien. Transat prévoit de réduire la fréquence des vols sur certaines liaisons vers l’Europe et les Caraïbes et de prolonger la suspension de ses services vers Cuba jusqu’en octobre, dans le contexte du blocus énergétique américain imposé à l’île. Air Transat avait prévu 129 vols vers 4 destinations cubaines entre le 20 juin – date à laquelle la période de suspension devait initialement prendre fin – et la fin octobre.
UK pension investor Nest plans to oppose the re-election of BP Chair Albert Manifold at the company's annual meeting on Thursday, it said on Wednesday, citing board actions that it said risked limiting shareholder engagement. Those include the exclusion from the meeting of a shareholder resolution proposed by activist Follow This, asking for more disclosure on how BP's strategy would stand up under scenarios of declining demand for oil and gas. Other steps include a move to retire two previous resolutions requiring company-specific climate reporting, backed by more than 97% of shareholders, and a proposal for virtual AGMs, which could reduce transparency and oversight, Nest said.
Proxy advisor ISS on Wednesday recommended that ConocoPhillips shareholders vote in favor of a proposal calling for an independent board chair, citing the need for stronger oversight of management. The non-binding proposal asks the U.S. oil and gas producer to separate the roles of chair and chief executive officer, with an independent director holding the board chair position. ISS backed the proposal, arguing that shareholders would benefit from "the most robust form of independent oversight of management in the form of an independent board chair". It cited concerns over the current lead director role, which is chosen by non-employee directors and not independent directors. ISS said the existing governance structure could make it more difficult for investors to provide candid feedback to the independent directors regarding the CEO's performance, succession planning, or other sensitive matters.
Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders are set to vote Thursday on the company’s proposed US$81 billion sale to Skydance-owned Paramount, in a mega merger that could vastly reshape Hollywood and the wider media landscape. Paramount wants to buy all of Warner. That means HBO Max, cult-favorite titles like “Harry Potter” and CNN could soon find themselves under the same roof as Paramount’s CBS, “Top Gun” and the Paramount+ streaming service. And a greenlight from shareholders would bring the acquisition closer to the finish line. Shareholders are expected to meet at 10 a.m. ET to vote on the deal, which is valued at nearly $111 billion, including debt, based on Warner’s current outstanding shares. Even if approved, a Paramount-Warner combo would still face ongoing regulatory reviews, including from the U.S. Department of Justice. Warner has said it expects to close the deal sometime in the third fiscal quarter.
There are good and bad ways to lose a top executive. For the bad, look at US data centre builder Fermi, whose shares plunged nearly a fifth on Monday when its CEO and finance director both quit, before its main project — known as the President Donald J Trump Advanced Energy and Intelligence Campus — had even got off the ground. For the good, consider Apple. The iPhone maker said, also on Monday, that boss Tim Cook will move upstairs to a new “executive chairman” role in September, drafting in head of hardware John Ternus as his replacement. Ternus is a known quantity. The basic thrust of the changeover was expected as long ago as last year. The shares barely moved.
A climate advocacy organisation is calling upon investors in Japan’s three largest banks and three trading firms to vote against board members for failing to recognise and manage the risks posed by investments in fossil fuel production. Environmental advocacy group Market Forces is arguing that directors are failing to oversee material financial risks to the banks and trading houses' businesses, according to presentations seen by Reuters.It made the presentations to institutional investors in banks Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Mizuho Financial Group, and trading houses Mitsubishi Corp, Mitsui & Co and Sumitomo Corp.
Communities across the central and eastern parts of Canada are on high alert as officials warn of spring flooding caused by rainfall and rapidly melting snow. Medically vulnerable residents of a First Nation community located 180 kilometres north of Winnipeg are being moved out in advance of anticipated flooding. Manitoba Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor says Peguis First Nation is proceeding with the partial evacuation in case rising water levels of the nearby Fisher River render local roads impassable. The community has been sandbagging since last week, but Chief Stan Bird said Tuesday it remained to be seen whether all of the 200 or more homes that might need protection will get barriers.
After securing a majority government in Canada last week, Prime Minister Mark Carney faces his biggest challenge: redefining trade with the U.S. under President Donald Trump. Canada, the U.S. and Mexico must agree by July 1 to keep the deal as is, insulating most Canadian goods from U.S. tariffs, renegotiate it, or hold annual reviews until its 2036 expiry. Carney, under U.S. pressure for concessions, will push for a revised deal this year that addresses tariffs against Canadian steel, aluminum and autos. Ahead of three special elections swept by Carney's Liberals last week, the PM said he needed a parliamentary majority to deal more effectively with Trump's trade war. After a year in office, political insiders and analysts say Carney must deliver on his promise to transform the Canadian economy and negotiate with Trump. While Carney has earned plaudits globally for his call to middle powers to band together against global hegemons and signed new global trade deals, Canadians now expect him to address the U.S. tariffs, along with domestic concerns, they said.
Proxy advisory firm Glass Lewis on Tuesday recommended that WEX shareholders elect two of the three candidates proposed by activist investor Impactive Capital in this year's proxy fight, arguing a "degree of board-level change is warranted."
Glass Lewis backed the co-founder of hedge fund Impactive Capital, Lauren Taylor Wolfe, and technology and payments executive Kurt Adams for election and urged investors to withhold votes from WEX CEO Melissa Smith and board director Stephen Smith (who is not related to the CEO). Shareholders will vote next month unless the two sides settle the fight, one of the year's most bitter and hotly contested boardroom battles, before the May 5 annual meeting.
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