Canadian companies are making slow progress in implementing corporate social responsibility management and disclosure practices, says a new report by the Conference Board of Canada.

The report says that companies operating in heavily regulated or intensely political industries are most likely to have strong corporate social responsibility management and disclosure practices. Mining, forestry, chemicals, and energy companies have responded more to pressures from external stakeholders for responsible conduct, because they are industries that have a heavy environmental or social footprint. Companies operating in heavily regulated sectors, such as banks, have also adopted comprehensive practices.

“What the data shows is that Canadian companies are making progress in CSR, but the progress is slow and it is not universal,” said Anne Golden, president and CEO of the Conference Board. “The report shows that corporate behaviour is visible and that CSR is practical, doable and growing.

Golden said two issues of concern arise from the research: only one-third of Canada’s 300 largest companies publicly disclose their CSR activities; and companies focus on their processes instead of measuring the outcomes of CSR conduct in their reporting.”

The findings are contained in National Corporate Social Responsibility Report: Managing Risks, Leveraging Opportunities, the first report of its kind in Canada. The study was released today in Toronto.

The report surveyed the CSR management practices of 53 of Canada’s 300 largest companies. Of those 53 companies, 62% issue formal CSR reports.

The report says there is a growing stakeholder demand for corporate accountability and prescribed standards of responsible business conduct.

The report is available at www.conferenceboard.ca/boardwise.