- Growing industry leadership in environmental, social and
governance standards
- Accelerated investment of up to $14
billion from 2020 to 2022 to connect even more
Canadians
- Commitment of $155 million for
mental health initiatives by 2025 through Bell Let's Talk
- Adopting Science Based Targets to reduce GHG in line with Paris
Climate Agreement by 2030
- Workplace diversity programs and targets to reflect the
communities we serve
MONTRÉAL, June 15, 2021 /CNW
Telbec/ - Bell today announced the launch of Bell for Better, our
long-term commitment to create better outcomes for all
stakeholders, including Canadian communities everywhere, employees,
customers and shareholders alike.
With our connectivity commitments from the smallest rural
communities to the largest cities, investments in mental health
initiatives, environmental sustainability and an engaged workplace,
Bell looks to create a thriving, prosperous and more connected
world for Canadians across the country, especially as we recover
from the unprecedented challenges of the COVID crisis.
"For 141 years, the Bell team has been an integral part of our
communities, keeping Canadians connected and informed as together
we built one of the world's most prosperous countries. Today, we
look to the future with Bell for Better, a purpose-driven approach
to making the communities in which we live and work even better,"
said Mirko Bibic, President and CEO
of Bell Canada and BCE. "Bell is
committed to making a significant contribution to Canada's social
and economic progress with a sustainable business model that
accelerates our goal to advance how Canadians connect with each
other and the world."
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
leadership
Environmental protection and addressing climate
change are at the core of Bell's corporate responsibility approach,
including adopting Science Based Targets to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions by 2030 in line with a 1.5°C emissions scenario and the
Paris Climate Agreement.
Today also marks the release of Bell's 2020 Purpose and
Corporate Responsibility Report. With a commitment to the highest
ESG standards, Bell supports the social and economic prosperity of
our communities through our unparalleled community investment,
leadership in international standards compliance and strong
performance on sustainability indices. We are dedicated to making a
meaningful contribution toward creating a sustainable future for
Canadians and the world by providing our customers with access to
the most innovative and efficient broadband networks and
communications services.
"By adhering to the highest ESG standards throughout our
operations, Bell ensures every action we take is viewed through the
lens of societal and environmental benefits. This includes
increasing sustainability not just in our operations but across the
economy, achieving a diverse and inclusive workplace, leading in
data governance and protection, and building stronger and healthier
communities," said Mr. Bibic. "Bell's 2020 Purpose and Corporate
Responsibility Report demonstrates how the actions we are taking as
a company are making a significant contribution to Canadian
communities and the economy, to our customers, team members and
shareholders."
Bell for Better in action
With Bell for Better, Bell
is formalizing its commitment to the highest in ESG standards based
on these pillars:
Better World
- Commit to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 in
line with the Paris Climate Agreement and the Science Based Targets
initiative, and achieve carbon neutral operations by 2025. Bell has
also recycled 11.7 million devices to date and is consistently
named one of Canada's Greenest Employers.
- Continue to lead the industry in mental health with
$155M committed to mental health
initiatives by 2025 through Bell Let's Talk, Canada's largest-ever
corporate commitment to mental health.
- Invest in Canadian innovation with an industry-leading
$500M in research and development
spending annually.
Better Communities
- Invest up to $14 billion from
2020 to 2022 to deliver faster and better connectivity to more
Canadians.
- Connect rural and underserved communities by making fast and
reliable Wireless Home Internet available to more than 750,000
households in rural communities by year-end.
- Donate refurbished company computers, printers and other
electronic devices to schools through the national Computers for
Success Plus program.
Better Workplace
- Foster an inclusive culture as one of the largest and Best
Employers in Canada, including one
of the Best Diversity Employers, Greenest Employers, Top-Family
Friendly Employers and a Montréal Top Employer.
- Enable the next generation of Bell leaders through our Graduate
Leadership Programs as a Top Employer for Young People.
- Encourage diversity at the top, targeting at least 35% women in
executive positions by the end of 2021, and BIPOC representation of
40%, including at least 25% in senior leadership positions by
2025.
The introduction of Bell for Better is supported by a national
media campaign on television, digital and social media, out-of-home
and print platforms describing the initiative.
For more information, please visit Bell.ca/BellforBetter.
About Bell
The Bell team builds world-leading
broadband wireless and fibre networks, provides innovative mobile,
TV, Internet and business communications services and delivers the
most compelling content with premier television, radio, out of home
and digital media brands. With a goal to advance how Canadians
connect with each other and the world, Bell serves more than 22
million consumer and business customer connections across every
province and territory. Founded in Montréal in 1880, Bell is wholly
owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE). To learn more, please
visit Bell.ca or BCE.ca.
Through Bell for Better, the company is investing to create a
better today and a better tomorrow by supporting the social and
economic prosperity of our communities with a commitment to the
highest environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards. We
measure our progress in increasing environmental sustainability,
achieving a diverse and inclusive workplace, leading data
governance and protection, and building stronger and healthier
communities. This includes confronting the challenge of mental
illness with the Bell Let's Talk initiative, which drives
mental health awareness and action with programs like the annual
Bell Let's Talk Day and Bell funding for community care, research
and workplace programs nationwide all year round.
Media inquiries
Jacqueline Michelis
613-785-1427
jacqueline.michelis@bell.ca
@Bell_LetsTalk
@Bell_News
Investor inquiries
Thane Fotopoulos
514-870-4619
thane.fotopoulos@bell.ca
Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Certain
statements made in this news release are forward-looking
statements, including statements relating to our business outlook,
objectives, plans and strategic priorities, including in
particular, our anticipated capital expenditures, network
deployment plans and the benefits expected to result therefrom,
including our two-year increased capital investment program to
accelerate broadband network and 5G footprint expansion, as well as
our corporate responsibility and ESG objectives (which include,
without limitation, our objectives concerning diversity and
inclusion, community investments and contributions, our commitment
to the highest ESG standards, targeted reductions in the level of
our greenhouse gas emissions, our plan to be carbon neutral across
our operations by 2025) and the benefits expected to result
therefrom, and other statements that are not historical facts. All
such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the "safe
harbour" provisions of applicable Canadian securities laws and of
the United States Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking
statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties and are
based on several assumptions which give rise to the possibility
that actual results or events could differ materially from our
expectations. These statements are not guarantees of future
performance or events, and we caution you against relying on any of
these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements
contained in this news release describe our expectations at the
date of this news release and, accordingly, are subject to change
after such date. Except as may be required by applicable securities
laws, we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statements contained in this news release, whether
as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Our
capital investment and network deployment plans, as well as our
corporate responsibility and ESG objectives, and the benefits
expected to result therefrom are subject to risks and, accordingly,
there can be no assurance that our capital investment and network
deployment plans, or our corporate responsibility and ESG
objectives, will be completed or that the benefits expected to
result therefrom will be realized. The value of the planned
investments assumes our ability to access or generate the necessary
sources of capital. However, there can be no certainty that the
required sources of capital will be available with the result that
the actual investments made by us could materially differ from
current expectations. For additional information on assumptions and
risks underlying certain of our forward-looking statements made in
this news release, please consult BCE Inc.'s (BCE) 2020 Annual
MD&A dated March 4, 2021, BCE's
2021 First Quarter MD&A dated April 28,
2021 and BCE's news release dated April 29, 2021 announcing its financial results
for the first quarter of 2021, filed by BCE with the Canadian
provincial securities regulatory authorities (available
at Sedar.com) and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission (available at SEC.gov). These documents are
also available at BCE.ca.
SOURCE Bell Canada