Leaders in the policy and practice of ethics, accountability and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) from around the world will gather at in Gatineau, Que., from February 5-7, as Canada hosts the International Congress on Ethics 2007.

Speakers and delegates from government, the business world, universities and major multilateral institutions will search for solutions to the most challenging ethics issues of our times, including those related to such major international concerns as natural disasters, military conflicts, security threats and the threat of global pandemics. “Leadership and Ethical Decision-Making in Times of Crises, Peacemaking and Peacekeeping” is one of the major themes of this year’s congress.

“Progress has been made over the past decade in accountability and ethical conduct in both government and the corporate world,” said Brian Grainger, national chairman of the congress and Professor, Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility at Queen’s University. “However, the global challenges around ethics are constantly evolving and there’s a need to develop new solutions in our changing world. The integrity challenge clearly continues.”

Government accountability, ethical conduct in international business, and new and emerging ethical dilemmas in science and medicine, policing and the military are some of the topics that will engage delegates.

Sun Life Financial Inc. is the official sponsor of the Congress, as it was for the last International Congress on Ethics to be held in North America (Ottawa) in 2000.

Donald Stewart, CEO of Sun Life said: “We are delighted to sponsor the 2007 International Ethics Conference. Operating ethically and with integrity is critical for all business today, and it is particularly relevant for financial services organizations. We take our commitment to business ethics and strong governance very seriously and we are pleased to help advance the discussion on this important topic through this conference.”

Canada’s Auditor General Sheila Fraser; Ethics Commissioner Bernard Shapiro; Director of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics Robert Cusick; National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations Phil Fontaine; OECD Principal Administrator Janos Bertok; Chair of Transparency International Hugette Labelle are among the presenters at the Congress.

For a full program and list of presenters, visit www.ice-cie.ca.