CEO of Maple Leaf and other business leaders call for bold green recovery

July 2, 2020, Toronto, Ont. – Maple Leaf Foods Inc. CEO Michael McCain and 46 other business leaders have signed a letter by Corporate Knights that calls for a bold green recovery coming out of the COVID 19 crisis.

The signatories lead companies employing more than 200,000 people in Canada and with annual revenues of $140 billion.

The letter outlines recommendations for investment in the green economy, arguing that is where the country’s most valuable assets line up best with global growth trends, including for green buildings, sustainably produced food, zero emissions vehicles and clean natural resources, including zero-carbon energy.

The leaders also challenge the notion of austerity and the idea of a mild recovery plan and instead call for action that is even bolder than has been the case for the COVID crisis response.

Their letter notes that it will require a significant burst of investment in the first couple of years buttressed with complimentary policies over the next five.

“These leaders know our future as a nation, and whether we will be leaders or followers in the world economy, depends on the decisions we make today, and they know those decisions need to be bold and green,” said Toby Heaps, CEO of Corporate Knights.

“Now is the time to be courageous and bold,” the letter concludes. “We encourage governments to lead a collaborative and bold economic recovery building on the strengths of our existing economy and talent to capture the growth markets of the future.

As corporate leaders, we are committed to doing our part to build back better towards a more resilient – and inclusive – economy.”

Corporate Knights Inc. includes the sustainable business magazine Corporate Knights and a research division that produces rankings and financial product ratings based on corporate sustainability performance.