CP rail is considering running freight trains along the arbutus corridor again, after a decade of no activity.  This would affect citizens who enjoy walking and biking along the currently vacant tracks.  There are also hundreds of community gardens along the tracks stretching from false creek to the Fraser River, all of which would be bulldozed in order to make the tracks operational.  CP has been upset with the city of Vancouver, after talks to buy the land broke down.  Vancouver wants the land for the use of parks and other community initiatives.  In order to get talks going again, CP is using bully tactics by bulldozing current community gardens along the line, and threatening to use the tracks to store rail cars.  CP’s vice-president of corporate affairs, Mark Wallace, stated, “We’re actually going to sweat the asset and put it to use”.  CP wants to sell the land for 100 million, while the city feels like the land is worth less than that.  The tactics used by CP strike me as non-ethical as the company is using citizen’s anger to force the city of Vancouver to make a deal.  A company is ethical when they take into account the views of all stakeholders, and in this case CP is not.  The fact that CP really doesn’t need to use the track also shows the extent the company is going to for money.  They are willing to change people’s way of life, instead of just going to the bargaining table with the city.  Sometimes companies need to look at what impacts their decisions will have on the community, rather then their chequebook.

Source

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/cp-rail-suspends-clearing-of-vancouver-gardens-amid-land-deal-talks-with-city/article20221859/

On Thursday, September 18^th, Scotland voted no to independence, choosing to instead stay in the United Kingdom.  Over the last few days of the campaign, leaders from both sides were fighting to get the undecided to vote for them.  In the end, the no side won with a decisive 55% of the vote.  Many believe the reason why the no side won, was peoples fear of what would happen if Scotland declared independence.  Fears of Scottish banks and business moving to England, as well as Scotland being kicked out of the EU, changed many peoples vote to stay with the UK.  For example, an oil chairman from a Scottish based company said they would relocate to England if Scotland declared independence.  Days before the referendum, UK leaders made promises to the Scotland, saying they would give them more power over taxes and welfare.  This was seen as the biggest factor in the vote, and now Scottish independence leaders are wondering if this power will come to fruition. Recently Scotland had been growing at a slow rate leading up to the referendum, but firms are now set to invest again, given the stability of the Scottish and UK economies..  Scotland is now in a position to move forward, which will benefit everyone economically throughout the United Kingdom.

Sources ,

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/international-business/european-business/scotlands-no-vote-doesnt-guarantee-investment/article20714022/

Source: http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1176079/air-canada-rouge-s-first-newly-painted-boeing-767-300-er-aircraft-arrives-at-mirabel-airport

Air Canada has been on a mission the last few years to remodel their business to make it more profitable. One of the reasons for there recent success has been the fact they are looking at all stakeholders in the company, and trying to make each one happy which is critical to the success of a company as Freeman states in his video.  This has included starting up a new low cost carrier, Air Canada Rouge, which has allowed the airline to make more money on low yielding routes,.  The start up of Air Canada Rouge has benefited customers as the airline has focused on creating a better experience for passengers.  The new airline has also allowed Air Canada to expand there network, adding routes such as Vancouver to Phoenix, and Vancouver to Palm Springs, both of which will give customers more selection of flights to choose from.  Each of these new flights benefits the community, as they provide connections for leisure and business travellers, as well as provide jobs at airports on both sides of the route.  From an employee point of view, Air Canada Rouge works for both new employees joining the leisure airline, and the other Air Canada employees, as the old employees don’t see a decline in pay, and the new ones get a job working at an up and coming airline.  Air Canada rouge has also benefited stockholders as the stock has risen dramatically over the past few months.  Evidence of this can be found by virtue of Air Canada being the best international airline in North America Evidence of this is Air Canada’s stock, which was the best performing stock in Canada as reported by the Globe and Mail in 2013.  Air Canada has managed to do this by virtue of the CEO, Calin Rovinescu, who has been making all of his decisions based off whether or not they will make the company more profitable, while serving their customers, employees and all other stakeholders.

Sources

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/air-canada-swings-to-profit-on-tax-gain-low-cost-carrier-rouge/article19946386/

http://www.thestar.com/business/2014/08/07/air_canada_swings_from_loss_to_profit_with_help_of_t

http://business.financialpost.com/2014/08/18/air-canada-shares-soar-as-oil-prices-drop-almost-2-a-barrel/

http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1328023/air-canada-rouge-expands-to-western-canada

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