University of Calgary to review Enbridge relationship after CBC probe

The University of Calgary will launch an independent review of its Centre for Corporate Sustainability after a CBC News investigation raised questions about the centre's relationship with its one-time namesake sponsor, Enbridge.

"We believe that academic freedom is a fundamental value of all universities," Mark Starratt, a member of the university's board of governors, said in a release.

"We've been listening and are taking action."

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The board of governors said the review will be conducted by an external, third-party expert to be named shortly and the findings will be made public, as will details of the scope, methodology and reporting time frames, once those are determined. 

In an interview Starratt said that review will be tightly focused on the formation of former Enbridge Centre, not to larger questions of corporate donations and academic freedom at the university. Nor would he say if the reviewer would be from outside of Calgary, or when he or she would be hired, or what they would be looking for, other than to interview all the players.

"I think that it's important that through their process, we find out in a transparent way what the answers to these questions are and so in getting all the people together that were involved  and the independent reviewer being able to ask those questions, everybody will have the confidence that this has been dealt with in an appropriate manner," Starratt said.

"The integrity of the University of Calgary is being questioned and we take that very seriously."

Cannon steps down from Enbridge board

University president Elizabeth Cannon, who previously defended her simultaneous role as independent director of the Enbridge Income Fund, said she welcomes the review.

Cannon voluntarily stepped down as a director of the Enbridge fund this week, the university announced. Last year, her compensation for that board position amounted to $130,500.

"There have been many lessons learned since the centre was created in 2011, which have been incorporated into the centre's current operations," Cannon said in a release.

"We have also done a lot of hard work to improve governance, operations and donor agreements across the university. We know we can always do more."

Cannon has also recused herself from any discussions involving the review, as has board of governors chair Bonnie DuPont, who is a former Enbridge vice-president. 

Starratt said in an interview that they will likely be part of the review

"I would hope that everybody that was involved with the review would be available to be interviewed as part of this, and quite frankly that will be the job of the independent reviewer to decide who is going to be part of that."

Broader provincial review

The university has also told the minister of advanced education it's willing to become the first Alberta post-secondary institution to participate in the provincial government's broader governance review of agencies, boards and commissions.

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"We will be open and transparent regarding the independent review process," Starratt said.

"This is our commitment to our university community and all Albertans."