Message from the Chair

Over the past year, the Board of Directors of Defence Construction Canada (DCC) has overseen sustained growth in the number of services the Corporation provides and in the size of its workforce. In the current environment, which is characterized by rapid change, it is important that the Corporation function more efficiently than ever before. With strong leadership and the commitment of all our employees, DCC has continued to deliver value in its strategic partnerships with the Canadian Forces and the Department of National Defence.

One of the ways DCC delivers value is through a company-wide focus on fairness and transparency. DCC believes in the value of strong, ethical leadership as a contributor to the Corporation’s success and prides itself on applying strictly the principles of good corporate governance. To that end, much of the Board’s work last year was focused on addressing governance issues, particularly the approval of the strategic plan for the Corporation and the creation – and approval – of a charter for its Governance Committee.

The Board also remained committed to the implementation of the initiatives outlined in the Treasury Board of Canada’s Review of the Governance Framework for Canada’s Crown Corporations, in particular the requirement that all Boards of Directors of Crown corporations complete internal assessments. The DCC Board completed its initial assessment in early 2008 and has already begun to implement a series of recommendations to enhance effectiveness and accountability. The Board also began planning for the holding of a public meeting with its stakeholders and for establishing, in co-operation with the Minister of Public Works and Government Services, a statement of priorities and accountabilities.

Last year saw quite a bit of change within the Board of Directors—a theme reflected throughout this organization in recent years. We had the pleasure of welcoming four new members: Kris Matthews, Robert Presser, Lloyd Callahan and Shirley McClellan. These very capable women and men expand the breadth of our collective experience, which now includes accounting, law, governance, engineering, construction, business, public policy and management, all of which are valuable in strategic planning and the general management of DCC’s operations.

I regret to report the departure of two members of our Board. John McLure, Chair of the Board since April 2001 and a Board Member since January 1990, has served the Board with diligence, insight and good humour and his contributions will be missed. We have also benefited greatly from the construction-industry expertise that Jean-Claude Garneau brought to the Board during his term from February 1998 to April 2008. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I wish to thank both men for their valuable contributions.

Going forward, I am pleased to continue to serve the Board of Directors in my capacity as Acting Chair and, along with all the Board Members, continue to provide sound oversight and stewardship of the Corporation.

Nancy Penner,
Acting Chair