Important note
The CGI Constitution, including the Dream, Vision, Mission, and Values of CGI Inc. form the fundamental principles of this Charter. This Charter should therefore be read in conjunction with CGI’s Constitution.
1. INTERPRETATION
"Committee" means the Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company.
"Independent Director" means a director who meets the independence criteria set out in sections 1.4 and 1.5 of National Instrument 52-110 Audit Committees adopted by the Canadian Securities Administrators, which is reproduced in Appendix A.
2. OBJECTIVES
The Committee is responsible for: (a) developing the Company's approach to Board of Directors governance issues and the Company's response to the corporate governance requirements and guidelines; (b) reviewing the composition and contribution of the Board of Directors, its standing committees and members, and recommending Board of Directors nominees; (c) overseeing the orientation program for new directors and the continuing education program for directors; (d) carrying out the annual Board of Directors self-assessment process; and (e) helping to maintain an effective working relationship between the Board of Directors and management.
3. COMPOSITION
3.1 The Committee shall be composed of a majority of Independent Directors.
3.2 The Board of Directors shall appoint an independent director as the Chair of the Committee. If the Chair is absent from a meeting, the members shall select a Chair from those in attendance to act as Chair of the meeting.
4. MEETINGS
4.1 Meetings of the Committee shall be held at the call of the Chair, but not less than twice annually. Meetings of the Committee may be called by the Chair of the Committee, the Executive Chair of the Board, the Co- Chair of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer.
4.2 The powers of the Committee shall be exercisable by a meeting at which a quorum is present. A quorum shall be not less than two members of the Committee from time to time. Subject to the foregoing requirement, unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, the Committee shall have the power to fix its quorum and to regulate its procedure. Matters decided by the Committee shall be decided by majority vote.
4.3 Notice of each meeting shall be given to each member, to the Executive Chair of the Board, to the Co- Chair of the Board, to the Chief Executive Officer and to the Corporate Secretary of the Company.
4.4 The Committee may invite from time to time such persons as it may see fit to attend its meetings and to take part in discussion and consideration of the affairs of the Committee, including in particular the Chief Executive Officer.
4.5 The Committee shall appoint a secretary to be the secretary of all meetings of the Committee and to maintain minutes of all meetings and deliberations of the Committee.
5. RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES
5.1 Role and responsibilities of the Committee Chair:
5.1.1 The Chair of the Committee:
5.1.1.1 Provides leadership for the Committee by ensuring that:
(i) The responsibilities of the Committee are well understood by Committee members and management.
(ii) The Committee works as a cohesive team.
(iii) Adequate resources and timely and relevant information are available to the Committee to support its work.
(iv) The effectiveness of the Committee is assessed on a regular basis.
(v) The Committee's structure and mandate are appropriate and adequate to support the discharge of the Committee's responsibilities.
(vi) The scheduling, organization and procedures of Committee meetings provide adequate time for the consideration and discussion of relevant issues.
5.1.1.2 Works with the Executive Chair of the Board, the Co-Chair of the Board and the Corporate Secretary to set the calendar of the Committee's regular meetings.
5.1.1.3 Has the authority to convene special meetings as required.
5.1.1.4 Sets the agenda in collaboration with the Executive Chair of the Board, the Co-Chair of the Board and the Corporate Secretary.
5.1.1.5 Presides at meetings.
5.1.1.6 Acts as liaison with management with regard to the work of the Committee.
5.1.1.7 Reports to the Board of Directors concerning the work of the Committee.
5.1.1.8 Exercises the authority specifically delegated to the Chair by the Committee, if any.
5.2 General Responsibilities
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBERS
5.2.1 Review criteria and set objectives or targets regarding the composition of the Board of Directors and committees of the Board of Directors, such as size, proportion of Independent Directors, and criteria to determine and promote independence of Board of Directors members, as well as, in compliance with all applicable local laws and practices, the diversity of Board of Directors members’ background, including in terms of gender (with a target of women representing at least 30% of the directors), ethnicity, race, disability, age, experience and geographical representation), while seeking to facilitate effective decision- making, and periodically monitor the objectives and targets in relation to the composition of the Board of Directors.
5.2.2 Review criteria relating to tenure as a director, such as limitations on the number of times a director may stand for re-election, and the continuation of directors in an honorary or similar capacity.
5.2.3 Review criteria for retention of directors unrelated to age or tenure, such as attendance at Board of Directors and committee meetings, health or the assumption of responsibilities which are incompatible with effective Board of Directors membership; assess the effectiveness of the Board of Directors as a whole, the committees of the Board of Directors, the contribution of individual directors on an ongoing basis and establish in light of the opportunities and risks facing the Company, what competencies, skills and personal qualities it seeks in new Board of Directors members in order to add value to the Company.
5.2.4 Recommend to the Board of Directors the list of candidates for directors to be nominated for election by shareholders at annual meetings of shareholders.
5.2.5 Recommend to the Board of Directors candidates to fill vacancies on the Board of Directors occurring between annual meetings of shareholders.
5.2.6 Recommend to the Board of Directors the removal of a director in exceptional circumstances, for example (a) such director is in a position of conflict of interest or (b) the criteria underlying the appointment of such director change.
5.2.7 Ensure that the Board of Directors can function independently of management. To this end, arrange for meetings on a regular basis of the Independent Directors without management present. In such cases, meetings will be chaired by the Lead Director.
5.2.8 Carry out the Board of Directors self-assessment process. Review the results of the self-assessment process and provide a report thereof to the Executive Chair of the Board, the Co-Chair of the Board and the Board of Directors.
DIRECTOR ORIENTATION AND CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAM
5.2.9 As an integral element of the process for appointing new directors, put in place an orientation and education program for new recruits to the Board of Directors and review from time to time the value and benefit of such program.
5.2.10 Maintain and oversee a continuing education program for the Board of Directors.
COMPLIANCE
5.2.11 Ensure corporate compliance with applicable legislation including director and officer compliance.
5.2.12 Review proposed amendments to the Company's by-laws before making recommendations to the Board of Directors.
CODES OF BUSINESS CONDUCT
5.2.13 Periodically review and make recommendations to the Board of Directors with respect to the Company's formal code of ethics and business conduct for its CGI Partners, directors and officers and its executive code of conduct applicable to the Company's principal executive officer, principal financing officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or other persons performing similar functions within the Company; including the disclosure of the adoption of such codes.
5.2.14 Monitor adherence to the codes and review potential situations related thereto brought to the attention of the Committee by the Corporate Secretary of the Company in order to recommend or not in certain circumstances to the Board of Directors to grant or not waivers from compliance with the codes for directors and officers. The Committee shall also ensure that when such waivers are granted, the Board of Directors shall disclose same in due time and specify the circumstances and rationale for granting the waiver.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PRINCIPLES
5.2.15 Make recommendations to the Board of Directors as deemed appropriate in the context of adherence to corporate governance guidelines in effect from time to time.
5.2.16 In conjunction with the Executive Chair of the Board and the Co-Chair of the Board, recommend to the Board of Directors the membership and chairs of the committees of the Board of Directors.
5.2.17 Review annually the Board of Directors/management relationship.
5.2.18 Review the company’s policies and processes related to company’s purpose as an organization, which is to seek the best equilibrium between its three stakeholders and the communities in which its CGI Partners live and work.
5.2.19 On a yearly basis, review the Company’s Environmental (including climate change), Social and Governance (ESG) strategies, objectives, policies and practices.
5.2.20 Advise the Board of Directors on the disclosure to be contained in the Company's public disclosure documents, such as the Company's annual management proxy circular or annual report, on matters of corporate governance as required by the Toronto Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange or any other applicable exchange or regulator.
5.2.21 Generally advise the Board of Directors on all other matters of corporate governance.
EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL RESOURCES
5.2.23 Retain such independent external advisors as it may deem necessary and advisable for its purposes.
5.2.24 Report to the Board of Directors on its proceedings, reviews undertaken, and any associated recommendations.
5.2.25 Have adequate resources to discharge its responsibilities.
5.2.26 Have the right, for the purposes of discharging the powers and responsibilities of the Committee, to inspect any relevant records of the Company and its subsidiaries.
5.2.27 The Chair of the Committee shall review the opportunity for the Board of Directors of the Company or individual directors to retain external advisors at the expense of the Company in certain appropriate circumstances in carrying out their responsibilities.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
5.2.28 Review and make recommendations on shareholder proposals to the Board of Directors or refer them to the Executive Chair of the Board or the Co-Chair of the Board as appropriate.
5.3 Other Responsibilities
The Committee shall carry out such other mandates as the Board of Directors may request from time to time.
5.4 Review of mandate of the committee
The Board of Directors should review and reassess the adequacy of the mandate on an annual basis.
5.5 Compensation
Members of the Committee shall be entitled to receive such remuneration for acting as members of the Committee as the Board of Directors may determine from time to time.
Appendix A
Definition of Independence under CSA National Instrument 52-110, as amended
1.4 Meaning of independence
(1) An audit committee member is independent if he or she has no direct or indirect material relationship with the issuer.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), a "material relationship" is a relationship which could, in the view of the issuer's board of directors, be reasonably expected to interfere with the exercise of a member's independent judgement.
(3) Despite subsection (2), the following individuals are considered to have a material relationship with an issuer:
(a) an individual who is, or has been within the last three years, an employee or executive officer of the issuer;
(b) an individual whose immediate family member is, or has been within the last three years, an executive officer of the issuer;
(c) an individual who:
(i) is a partner of a firm that is the issuer's internal or external auditor,
(ii) is an employee of that firm, or
(iii) was within the last three years a partner or employee of that firm and personally worked on the issuer's audit within that time;
(d) an individual whose spouse, minor child or stepchild, or child or stepchild who shares a home with the individual:
(i) is a partner of a firm that is the issuer's internal or external auditor,
(ii) is an employee of that firm and participates in its audit, assurance or tax compliance (but not tax planning) practice, or
(iii) was within the last three years a partner or employee of that firm and personally worked on the issuer's audit within that time;
(e) an individual who, or whose immediate family member, is or has been within the last three years, an executive officer of an entity if any of the issuer's current executive officers serves or served at that same time on the entity's compensation committee; and
(f) an individual who received, or whose immediate family member who is employed as an executive officer of the issuer received, more than $75,000 in direct compensation from the issuer during any 12 month period within the last three years.
(4) Despite subsection (3), an individual will not be considered to have a material relationship with the issuer solely because
(a) he or she had a relationship identified in subsection (3) if that relationship ended before March 30, 2004; or
(b) he or she had a relationship identified in subsection (3) by virtue of subsection (8) if that relationship ended before June 30, 2005.
(5) For the purposes of clauses (3)(c) and (3)(d), a partner does not include a fixed income partner whose interest in the firm that is the internal or external auditor is limited to the receipt of fixed amounts of compensation (including deferred compensation) for prior service with that firm if the compensation is not contingent in any way on continued service.
(6) For the purposes of clause (3)(f), direct compensation does not include:
(a) remuneration for acting as a member of the board of directors or of any board committee of the issuer, and
(b) the receipt of fixed amounts of compensation under a retirement plan (including deferred compensation) for prior service with the issuer if the compensation is not contingent in any way on continued service.
(7) Despite subsection (3), an individual will not be considered to have a material relationship with the issuer solely because the individual or his or her immediate family member
(a) has previously acted as an interim chief executive officer of the issuer, or
(b) acts, or has previously acted, as a chair or vice-chair of the board of directors or of any board committee of the issuer on a part-time basis.
(8) For the purpose of section 1.4, an issuer includes a subsidiary entity of the issuer and a parent of the issuer.
1.5 Additional independence requirements
(1) Despite any determination made under section 1.4, an individual who
(a) accepts, directly or indirectly, any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee from the issuer or any subsidiary entity of the issuer, other than as remuneration for acting in his or her capacity as a member of the board of directors or any board committee, or as a part-time chair or vice-chair of the board or any board committee; or
(b) is an affiliated entity of the issuer or any of its subsidiary entities, is considered to have a material relationship with the issuer.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the indirect acceptance by an individual of any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee includes acceptance of a fee by
(a) an individual's spouse, minor child or stepchild, or a child or stepchild who shares the individual's home; or
(b) an entity in which such individual is a partner, member, an officer such as a managing director occupying a comparable position or executive officer, or occupies a similar position (except limited partners, non-managing members and those occupying similar positions who, in each case, have no active role in providing services to the entity) and which provides accounting, consulting, legal, investment banking or financial advisory services to the issuer or any subsidiary entity of the issuer.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (1), compensatory fees do not include the receipt of fixed amounts of compensation under a retirement plan (including deferred compensation) for prior service with the issuer if the compensation is not contingent in any way on continued service.
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