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In our most recent class with Professor James Tansey, we discussed sustainability as an outcome. It is important that businesses address their “triple bottom-line”, which entails the economic, social, and environmental aspects of a companies actions that determines if they are considered a sustainable corporation. Focusing on environmental and social sustainability, I find interest in examining how companies moving into First Nations communities develop relationships with, and learn sustainable practices from the local Aboriginal people.

An example of these forms of sustainability being successfully implemented was the agreement made between the Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline and the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq Chiefs. This involved both groups agreeing to work towards common initiatives, such as placing concern on the impact the pipeline could have to certain areas, and having the Mi’kmaq people give cultural-awareness workshops to environmental inspectors. These workshops would be significant to inspectors as they looked towards implementing the pipeline in an environmentally sustainable way, while similarly upholding social sustainability by reassuring the Chiefs and community that their culture was being considered. Moreover, the pipeline set-up scholarships for native Mi’kmaq students with the intention of “build[ing] community capacity“.

Delta Cable, who among other things is currently working on providing television receivers to their customer, can attribute it’s success to being first in their category, a crucial factor in generating business. This theme is something we discussed in our class about marketing. Delta Cable was among the first in North America to broadcast 3D high definition movies and sports over their fibre network last year and through this, created a platform for future sales. It was due to the fact that they were well prepared and grabbed a position not heavily occupied, that consumers remembered their name, and bought their product. This generated enough support for them to continue improving. Advancing their product will prove to be very advantageous in the future, as 3D TV sales are projected to increase by more than 50 million units by 2014. They were aware that if their product was reliable, they would gain customer loyalty and ensure future business. Delta Cable is an innovative company, who seems to understand the influence that being first can make on consumer choice.

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While reading an article about the possibility of local television stations introducing a “TV Tax” to cable and satellite providers for their signals, which providers currently receive for free, I became torn between two contradicting arguments. Initially, I did not support the idea because I believed the tax would be imposed onto the subscriber. Although agitated by the increase in price, many people would continue to pay for TV as it is an enjoyable aspect of their lives.

However, as I continued to read on, the article stated that BCE, a Canadian “communication giant”, had promised not to place any of the excess fees onto it’s subscribers. Another argument, posed by Crull, was that local television channels “rely solely on advertising revenue” and that this advertising does not generate enough money to ensure the stability of local channels. If the promise made by BCE proved to be true, then the tax may not be a bad thing, but BCE is only one major provider and others may not have similar views. Both arguments prove valid points; however, I agree that the idea of TV tax may be necessary for the survival of local television stations.

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