Power Corporation of Canada | French as official language at Power Corporation of Canada

Status
3.85% votes in favour
AGM date
Previous AGM date
Proposal number
3
Resolution details
Lead filer
Mouvement d'éducation et de défense des actionnaires (MÉDAC)
Resolution ask
Adopt or amend a policy
ESG theme
  • Governance
ESG sub-theme
  • Diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI)
Type of vote
Shareholder proposal
Filer type
Shareholder
Company sector
Energy
Company HQ country
Canada
Resolved clause
It is proposed that the corporation’s language be French, the language of work in Quebec, including the language at annual meetings. Its official status should be formally indicated, in writing, in the corporation’s letters.
Supporting statement
The corporation’s head office is in Quebec, a French language State. The State of Quebec has been in existence for over 400 years. French is also the official language of Quebec. The State of Quebec is the only French-language State in America. A language of a people is most essential and fundamental to its identity. It is an existential attribute. The diversity of the world cannot boil down to issues relating strictly to the biological nature of individuals or the arbitration of individual privileges. The diversity of the world is first and foremost a collective issue based essentially on the culture of peoples. Through its territorial State and public institutions, starting with the National Assembly, constitution and charters, the people of Quebec protect linguistic diversity in the world by rigorously protecting the collective and public nature of its language. The spirit of the Law is clear, including that of the federal and Quebec legislative reforms. Respecting and promoting global diversity is a matter of corporate social responsibility. It is in the interest of all stakeholders, starting with society as a whole, regardless of background. Sustainable development and long-term performance are inconceivable otherwise. The corporation has a duty to act in strict compliance with these sacred principles. Moreover, it is entirely possible to do business anywhere in the world with headquarters operating in the language of the State in which they are located. For example, the annual general meeting of shareholders of Samsung (Suwon) is in Korean, Heineken (Amsterdam) in Dutch, Nissan(Yokohama) in Japanese, Foxconn (Taiwan) in Mandarin, Volkswagen (Wolfsbourg) in German and L’Oréal  (Clichy), Danone (Paris), Christian Dior (Paris) and LVMH (Paris) in French. The content is translated into other languages. The principle is simple and clear. Speaking French is not a choice. It is a collective communication tool. For foreign languages there is simultaneous or consecutive interpretation and translation. French is our common language.It is a collective issue of fairness, justice and dignity — a national issue.

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