Corporate governance
Our commitment to the highest standards of ethics and corporate governance helps us do what we do best — anticipating the energy needs of North American communities.
Board size
13
Independent directors
92%
Women on our board
38%
Board interlocks
0
Statement of corporate governance
The board and the members of TC Energy's management are committed to the highest standards of corporate governance. TC Energy's corporate governance practices comply with the governance rules of the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA), those of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), applicable to foreign issuers and those mandated by the United States Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX).
TC Energy is in compliance with the CSA's National Instrument 52-110 pertaining to audit committees (Canadian Audit Committee Rules). TC Energy is also in compliance with National Policy 58-201, Corporate Governance Guidelines, and National Instrument 58-101, Disclosure of Corporate Governance Practices (collectively, the Canadian Governance Guideline).
Corporate governance guidelines
The board has formally adopted and published a set of Corporate Governance Guidelines, which affirm TC Energy's commitment to maintaining a high standard of corporate governance. The guidelines address the structure and composition of the board and its committees and also provide guidance to both the board and management in clarifying their respective responsibilities.
The board's strengths include: an independent, non-executive Chair; well informed and experienced directors, who ensure that standards exist to promote ethical behaviour throughout TC Energy; effective board size; director share ownership requirements; and annual assessment of board, committee and individual director effectiveness.
Our board of directors
John E. Lowe, Board Chair
Director since 2015, Independent
John E. Lowe, Board Chair
Director since 2015, Independent
Mr. Lowe is a corporate director. He is currently the Chair of the Board of TC Energy. He also serves on the board of directors for Phillips 66.
Mr. Lowe has previously served as the non-executive Chair of Apache Corporation’s (oil and gas) board of directors from May 2015 to September 2022, and served as a director of Agrium Inc. (agricultural) from May 2010 to August 2015, DCP Midstream LLC (oil and gas, exploration and production) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, DCP Midstream GP, LLC, the general partner of DCP Midstream Partners, LP from October 2008 to April 2012 and Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. LLC from October 2008 to January 2011. He has also held various executive and management positions with ConocoPhillips Co. for more than 25 years, including Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer of ConocoPhillips Co., Executive Vice-President of Exploration & Production and Executive Vice-President of Commercial.
Mr. Lowe is on the Board of Advisors of the Kelce College of Business at Pittsburg State University. He has also previously served as a Senior Executive Adviser at Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. LLC (energy investment and merchant banking) from September 2012 to August 2021 and also served on the Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus Advisory Council. He is a former director of the National Association of Manufacturers.
Mr. Lowe holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Accounting from Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas and is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive).
TC Energy Committee memberships
• Governance Committee
• Human Resources Committee
Other public board directorships
• Phillips 66 Company (oil and gas) (NYSE)
2023 | 2022 | |
---|---|---|
Common shares | 25,000 | 25,000 |
Deferred share units | 32,236 | 27,274 |
Cheryl F. Campbell
Director since 2022, Independent
Cheryl F. Campbell
Director since 2022, Independent
Ms. Campbell is a corporate director and has 35 years of energy experience in midstream, interstate pipelines and utilities. She currently serves on the board of Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), where she is Chair of the Safety & Nuclear Oversight Committee as well as a member of its Sustainability & Governance Committee. She also serves on the boards of Summit Utilities, as Chair, and JANA Corporation. She is involved in non-profit board work serving on the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Colorado chapter board.
Ms. Campbell previously served as a Senior Vice President, Gas, with Xcel Energy (utility supplier of electric power and natural gas service operating in eight states). During her 13-year tenure there, she developed industry leading gas integrity and risk management programs, improving regulatory returns and overall operating, environmental and safety metrics.
Ms. Campbell also served on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Gas Pipeline Advisory Committee providing guidance to the Secretary of Transportation on pipeline safety regulations, and testified before a congressional subcommittee on pipeline infrastructure safety.
In 2019, Ms. Campbell was awarded the Natural Gas Leadership Award from the American Gas Association and was named one of the Top Women in Energy by the Denver Business Journal in 2014.
Ms. Campbell holds a Master of Science degree in finance, with a minor in management, from the University of Colorado at Denver, as well as Bachelor of Science degrees in chemical engineering and business from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
TC Energy Committee memberships
• Audit Committee
• Health, Safety, Sustainability and Environment Committee
Other public board directorships
• Pacific Gas & Electric (NYSE)
2023 | 2022 | |
---|---|---|
Common shares | - | - |
Deferred share units | 2,716 | - |
Michael R. Culbert
Director since 2020, Independent
Michael R. Culbert
Director since 2020, Independent
Mr. Culbert currently serves on the board of directors for Precision Drilling Corporation (oil and gas services) since 2017.
Mr. Culbert previously served as a director and Vice Chair of PETRONAS Canada Ltd. from 2016 to 2020. He has also previously served as a director and President of Pacific NorthWest LNG LP (2013 to 2017). He is a former cofounder, director, President and CEO of Progress Energy Ltd. (oil and gas, exploration and production) from 2004 to 2016 and, prior to that, he was the Vice-President, Marketing and Business Development from 2001 to 2004. He has also held senior leadership positions in Marketing and Business Development through his career.
Mr. Culbert is a patron of the Shaw Charity Classic, which since its inception in 2013 has successfully raised over $100 million for over 200 children and youth charities in Alberta. He is also a founding member of the Creative Destruction Lab Energy stream at the University of Calgary, Haskayne School of Business.
In 2019, Mr. Culbert was awarded the 2019 Distinguished Business Leader - Recognizing Ethical Leadership from the University of Calgary Haskayne School of Business and the Calgary Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Culbert holds a Bachelor of Science Business Administration Degree from Emmanuel College in Boston, Massachusetts.
TC Energy Committee memberships
• Audit Committee
• Health, Safety, Sustainability and Environment Committee
Other public board directorships
• Precision Drilling Corporation (oil and gas reserves) (TSX, NYSE)
2023 | 2022 | |
---|---|---|
Common shares | 5,500 | 5,500 |
Deferred share units | 13,124 | 8,050 |
Bill Johnson
Director since 2021 Independent
Bill Johnson
Director since 2021 Independent
Mr. Johnson is a corporate director. Mr. Johnson most recently served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Pacific Gas & Electric Corporation (utilities) from May 2019 through June 2020. Mr. Johnson also served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Tennessee Valley Authority (electricity) from January 2013 to May 2019.
Prior to joining Tennessee Valley Authority, Mr. Johnson held the positions of Chairman, President and CEO of Progress Energy, Inc. from October 2007 to July 2012 and previously to that, served as President and Chief Operating Officer (2005- 2007). His career at Progress included leadership roles of increasing responsibility including as President, Energy Delivery (2004-2005) and President and Chief Executive Officer (2002-2003) and Executive Vice President and General Counsel (2000-2002) of Progress Energy Service Company. Mr. Johnson’s career began in 1992 at Carolina Power & Light Company (predecessor to Progress Energy Inc.) where he held increasing senior management roles of Associate General Counsel and Manager, Legal Department; Vice President, Senior Counsel and Corporate Secretary and Senior Vice President and Corporate Secretary.
Mr. Johnson has served on the boards of the following utility industry groups or associations: Edison Electric Institute (Vice Chair), Nuclear Energy Institute (Chair), Institute of Nuclear Power Operations, World Association of Nuclear Operators (Governor) and Nuclear Electric Insurance Limited.
Mr. Johnson holds a Juris Doctor degree (high honors) from the University of North Carolina School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree (history, summa cum laude) from Duke University in North Carolina.
TC Energy Committee memberships
• Human Resources Committee (Chair)
• Audit Committee
2023 | 2022 | |
---|---|---|
Common shares | - | - |
Deferred share units | 9,186 | 3,069 |
Susan Jones
Director since 2020, Independent
Susan Jones
Director since 2020, Independent
Ms. Jones is a corporate director. She is currently a director of Canadian National Railway Company (freight railway), since May 2022.
Ms. Jones retired from her Executive Leadership role at Nutrien at the end of 2019 after 15 years with the company. While at Nutrien, she held a variety of roles between September 2004 to December 2019, including Executive Vice-President and CEO of the Potash Business Unit of Nutrien (largest global underground soft-rock miner), Executive Vice-President and President of the Phosphate Business Unit; Chief Legal Officer; Business Development and Strategy; Managing Director of the European Distribution Business; and Vice-President of Wholesale Sales, Marketing and Logistics.
She previously served on the boards of Arc Resources Ltd. (and predecessor company), Piedmont Lithium Limited and Gibson Energy Inc.
Ms. Jones was named the Osler Purdy Crawford Deal Maker of the Year 2017 at the Canadian General Counsel Awards for her role in the merger of Agrium and Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan. She has served on the United Way and the Canadian Bar Association.
Ms. Jones holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and Hispanic Studies from the University of Victoria as well as a Bachelor of Laws Degree from the University of Ottawa. She also earned a Leadership Diploma from the University of Oxford and holds a Director Certificate from Harvard University.
TC Energy Committee memberships:
- Audit Committee
- Human Resources Committee
Other public board directorships:
- Canadian National Railway Company (TSX, NYSE)
David MacNaughton
Director since 2020, Independent
David MacNaughton
Director since 2020, Independent
Mr. MacNaughton is the President of Palantir Canada, a subsidiary of Palantir Technologies, Inc. (data integration and analytics software) since September 2019.
Mr. MacNaughton has held various positions with both the federal and provincial levels of government, including serving as Canada’s Ambassador to the United States from March 2016 to August 2019. He also served as Principal Secretary to the Premier of Ontario from 2003 to 2005.
Previously, he was the Chairman of StrategyCorp (public affairs consulting) from June 2005 to March 2016. He was also the Chairman of Aereus Technologies Inc. (manufacturing) from 2014 to 2016. He has served on the boards of the North York General Hospital, the Stratford Festival, the National Ski Academy, TV Ontario, the Toronto French School and the Toronto International Film Festival.
Mr. MacNaughton holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of New Brunswick.
TC Energy Committee memberships
• Governance Committee
• Health, Safety, Sustainability and Environment Committee
2023 | 2022 | |
---|---|---|
Common shares | - | - |
Deferred share units | 16,646 | 8,293 |
François Poirier
Director since 2021, Non-Independent
François Poirier
Director since 2021, Non-Independent
Mr. Poirier has been President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) since January 2021.
His previous role was Chief Operating Officer and President, Power & Storage. He was responsible for successfully executing the acquisition of the Columbia Pipeline Group in 2016. Mr. Poirier held other roles which included leading our Mexico business unit, as well as leading the company’s risk management, strategy and corporate development efforts. Mr. Poirier joined the company in 2014 as President, Energy East Pipeline.
Before joining TC Energy, Mr. Poirier spent 25 years in investment banking, consulting and as a Corporate Director. He was President and Head, Investment Banking and Capital Markets, for Wells Fargo Securities Canada, Ltd. Prior to that, he was Group Head, Power and Pipelines Investment Banking, at J.P. Morgan Securities in New York.
From 2007 to 2011, Mr. Poirier served as an Independent Director of Capital Power Income LP. His community involvement has included serving as Chair of the North York Harvest Food Bank.
Mr. Poirier holds a Master of Business Administration from the Schulich School of Business at York University and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Operations Research from the University of Ottawa.
Una Power
Director since 2019, Independent
Una Power
Director since 2019, Independent
Ms. Power is a corporate director and currently serves on the boards of the Bank of Nova Scotia and Teck Resources Limited. She previously served as a director of Kinross Gold Corporation from April 2013 to May 2019.
Ms. Power was the Chief Financial Officer of Nexen Energy ULC (Nexen) from February 2013 to March 2016, a former publicly traded energy company that is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited. During her 24-year career with Nexen, Ms. Power held various executive positions with responsibility for financial and risk management, strategic planning and budgeting, business development, energy marketing and trading, information technology and capital investment.
Ms. Power holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree from Memorial University and holds Chartered Professional Accountant, Chartered Accountant and Chartered Financial Analyst designations. She has completed executive development programs at Wharton Business School and INSEAD.
TC Energy Committee memberships
• Audit Committee (Chair)
• Health, Safety, Sustainability and Environment Committee
Other public board directorships
• The Bank of Nova Scotia (chartered bank) (TSX, NYSE)
• Teck Resources Limited (diversified mining) (TSX, NYSE)
2023 | 2022 | |
---|---|---|
Common shares | 1,560 | 1,560 |
Deferred share units | 23,031 | 15,512 |
Mary Pat Salomone
Director since 2013, Independent
Mary Pat Salomone
Director since 2013, Independent
Ms. Salomone is a corporate director. She previously served as a director of Intertape Polymer Group from November 2015 to June 2022, as well as Herc Rentals from July 2016 to December 2021. Ms. Salomone was the Senior Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of The Babcock & Wilcox Company (B&W) (energy infrastructure) from January 2010 to June 30, 2013. Prior to that, she served as Manager of Business Development from 2009 to 2010 and Manager of Strategic Acquisitions from 2008 to 2009 for Babcock & Wilcox Nuclear Operations Group, Inc. From 1998 through December 2007, Ms. Salomone served as an officer of Marine Mechanical Corporation, which B&W acquired in 2007, including her term as President and Chief Executive Officer from 2001 through 2007. Ms. Salomone served as a trustee of the Youngstown State University Foundation from 2013 through 2019.
Ms. Salomone previously served on the board of directors of United States Enrichment Corporation (basic materials, nuclear) from December 2011 to October 2012 and on the Naval Submarine League from 2007 to 2013. She was formerly a member of the Governor’s Workforce Policy Advisory Board in Ohio and the Ohio Employee Ownership Center, and served on the board of Cleveland’s Manufacturing Advocacy & Growth Network.
Ms. Salomone has a Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering from Youngstown State University and a Master of Business Administration from Baldwin Wallace College. She completed the Advanced Management Program at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business in 2011.
TC Energy Committee memberships
• Health, Safety, Sustainability and Environment Committee (Chair)
• Governance Committee
2023 | 2022 | |
---|---|---|
Common shares | 3,500 | 3,500 |
Deferred share units | 36,912 | 31,693 |
Indira Samarasekera
Director since 2016, Independent
Indira Samarasekera
Director since 2016, Independent
Dr. Samarasekera is currently a senior advisor for Bennett Jones LLP (law firm) and serves on the boards of Intact Financial Corporation, Magna International Inc. and Stelco Holdings Inc. She also currently serves on the selection panel for Canada’s outstanding chief executive officer of the year, is a member of the TriLateral Commission and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. She previously served on the board of The Bank of Nova Scotia from May 2008 to April 2021.
Dr. Samarasekera is internationally recognized as one of Canada’s leading metallurgical engineers for her groundbreaking work on steel process engineering and she was the first incumbent of the Dofasco Chair in Advanced Steel Processing at the University of British Columbia. From 2005 to 2015, she served as President of the University of Alberta. Prior to that, she was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in the U.S. She has also served as the chair of the Worldwide Universities Network and has served on several boards and committees including the Asia-Pacific Foundation, Rideau Hall Foundation, Prime Minister’s Advisory Committee for Renewal of the Public Service, a Presidential Visiting Committee at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Canada’s Science, Technology, Innovation Council.
Dr. Samarasekera has received honorary degrees from the Universities of Alberta, British Columbia, Toronto, Waterloo, Montréal, Queen’s and Western in Canada, and Queen’s University in Belfast, Northern Ireland, U.K. She received the Peter Lougheed Leadership Award from the Public Policy Forum in Canada in 2012 and was awarded the Order of Canada in 2002. Dr. Samarasekera was also granted a PhD in metallurgical engineering from the University of British Columbia in 1980 and, as a Hays Fulbright Scholar, she earned a Master of Science from the University of California in 1976.
TC Energy Committee memberships
• Governance Committee
• Human Resources Committee
Other public board directorships
• Intact Financial Corporation (TSX)
• Magna International Inc. (manufacturing, automotive parts) (TSX, NYSE)
• Stelco Holdings Inc. (manufacturing) (TSX)
2023 | 2022 | |
---|---|---|
Common shares | - | - |
Deferred share units | 33,293 | 28,273 |
Siim A. Vanaselja
Director since 2014, Independent
Siim A. Vanaselja
Director since 2014, Independent
Mr. Vanaselja is a corporate director. He currently serves on the board of directors of Great-West Lifeco Inc., Power Corporation of Canada and RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust.
Mr. Vanaselja was the Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer of BCE Inc. and Bell Canada (telecommunications and media) from January 2001 to June 2015. Prior to joining BCE Inc., he was a partner at the accounting firm KPMG Canada in Toronto.
Mr. Vanaselja previously served as a member of the Conference Board of Canada’s National Council of Financial Executives, the Corporate Executive Board’s working council for Chief Financial Officers and Moody’s Council of Chief Financial Officers. During the period of the 2008 global financial crisis, he was a member of the Minister of Finance’s Special Advisory Committee to address the continued functioning of financial and credit markets in Canada.
He is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors and a fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario. He holds an Honours Bachelor of Business degree from the Schulich School of Business. His community involvement has included work with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto, St. Mary’s Hospital, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Québec and the annual Walk for Kids Help Phone.
TC Energy Committee memberships
• Governance Committee
• Human Resources Committee
Other public board directorships
• Great-West Lifeco Inc. (financial services) (TSX)
• Power Corporation of Canada (financial services) (TSX)
• RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust (real estate) (TSX)
2023 | 2022 | |
---|---|---|
Common shares | 12,000 | 12,000 |
Deferred share units | 83,722 | 68,591 |
Thierry Vandal
Director since 2017, Independent
Thierry Vandal
Director since 2017, Independent
Mr. Vandal is the President of Axium Infrastructure U.S., Inc. (independent infrastructure fund management firm) and currently serves on the board of directors for Axium Infrastructure Inc. (infrastructure fund management) and The Royal Bank of Canada. He is also Governor Emeritus at McGill University.
Mr. Vandal previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer for Hydro-Québec (electric utility) from 2005 to May 2015. He has also served as a director for HEC Montréal from 2006 to October 2017, director for Veresen Inc. (energy infrastructure) from 2015 to July 2017, Chairman of BioFuelNet Canada (biofuels industry) from 2013 to 2015, Chairman of the Conference Board of Canada from 2009 to 2010 and was a McGill University Governor from 2006 to 2017 as well as Chair of its Finance Committee from 2010 to 2017. He also served on the international advisory boards of École des Hautes Etudes Commerciales (HEC) Montréal from 2017 to 2022 and McGill University from 2019 to 2022.
Mr. Vandal holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree from École Polytechnique de Montréal and a Master of Business Administration in finance from HEC Montréal. In 2012, he was named Canadian Energy Person of the Year by the Canadian Energy Council. He was also awarded an honorary doctorate by the Université de Montréal in 2007.
TC Energy Committee memberships
• Governance Committee (Chair)
• Health, Safety, Sustainability and Environment Comittee
Other public board directorships
• The Royal Bank of Canada (chartered bank) (TSX, NYSE)
2023 | 2022 | |
---|---|---|
Common shares | 269 | 269 |
Deferred share units | 35,060 | 27,120 |
Dheeraj “D” Verma
Director since 2022, Independent
Dheeraj “D” Verma
Director since 2022, Independent
Mr. Verma is currently a Senior Advisor to Quantum Energy Partners (Quantum), a private equity firm focused on the global energy sector. He served on the Executive and Investment Committees of the firm from 2008 until 2021 and was also the President of the firm from 2017 through 2021. As part of his responsibilities, Mr. Verma also served as a director on several boards of private energy companies controlled by Quantum.
During his time with Quantum, Mr. Verma was responsible for investing and then stewarding significant institutional equity capital across the energy value chain, including in the upstream, midstream, oilfield services, power generation, renewables, technology and energy transition segments of the industry. He was also actively involved in investing in and helping build some of the largest private equity backed energy companies in North America. Among many other responsibilities, he was also one of the key architects of the firm’s ESG strategy and oversaw the firm’s operational efforts and reporting in this regard.
Prior to joining Quantum, Mr. Verma was a senior member of J.P. Morgan’s Mergers and Acquisitions group in New York from 2001 through 2008 and advised various public and private companies (including electric and gas utilities, renewable/ conventional power generators) on strategic and financial transactions.
Mr. Verma has a B.A./B.S. in Mathematics and Finance from Ithaca College and a Master’s in International Management from Thunderbird School of Global Management.
TC Energy Committee memberships
• Governance Committee
• Human Resources Committee
2023 | 2022 | |
---|---|---|
Common shares | 32,000 | - |
Deferred share units | 4,276 | - |
Roles and responsibilities of the board
The board’s primary responsibilities are to foster TC Energy’s long-term success, oversee our business and affairs and management, and to act honestly, in good faith and in the best interests of TC Energy. The board’s main objective is to promote our best interests, to maximize long-term shareholder value and to enhance shareholder returns.
The board has key duties and responsibilities, delegates some duties to its four standing committees and discharges others to management for the day-to-day affairs of the business.
Board renewal
The Governance committee regularly assesses the skill set of each director, and reviews it against the director retirement schedule, their ages and the composition of each committee. The review also takes into account the desirability of maintaining a reasonable diversity of backgrounds, and character and behavioural qualities such as integrity.
The Governance committee, with input from the Chair of the Board and the CEO, is responsible for identifying suitable director candidates, and canvasses the entire Board for potential nominees. The committee also uses a third-party recruitment specialist to identify potential director candidates. The committee is responsible for assessing the individuals and proposing the strongest candidates for nomination. An evolving roster of suitable director candidates is maintained by the committee.
The committee looks for a mix of skills and experience required for overseeing our business and affairs. The Board considers personal characteristics such as gender, ethnic background and geographic residence when looking at diversity. While candidates are nominated as directors based on their background and ability to contribute to the Board and committee meetings, the Board also specifically considers gender diversity.
Candidates who are being nominated for the first time must have experience in industries similar to ours, or experience in general business management or with corporations that are similar in size and scope. Candidates must also be willing to serve on the Board, able to devote the necessary time to fulfill their duties and responsibilities and be under 73 years old.
The committee recommends potential candidates based on their qualifications and independence and how these qualities balance with the skill set of the current Board, the structure and composition of the committees and the director retirement schedule. This assessment helps the Board determine the best mix of skills and experience to guide our business operations and our long-term strategy.
The committee ensures that the board seeks expertise in the following key areas:
- Accounting/audit
- Human resources & compensation
- Capital markets
- Major projects
- CEO
- Mergers & acquisitions
- Electric power
- Operations/health, safety, sustainability & environment
- Energy, midstream & transportation
- Risk management
- Governance
- Strategy & leading growth
- Government & regulatory
- Upstream oil & gas
Independence of directors
An independent board is a fundamental principle of governance. The Board believes that the majority of our directors must be independent in accordance with applicable Canadian legal requirements and guidelines, and consistent with the applicable independence criteria of the regulations of the SEC and rules of the NYSE.
The Governance committee and the Board review the independence of each Board member at least once a year. The Board considers whether directors serving on boards of non-profit organizations which receive donations from TC Energy post any potential conflict. The Governance committee also reviews family relationships and associations with companies that have relationships with TC Energy when it reviews director independence.
The Board has determined that 12 of 13 or 92 per cent of the directors are independent. Mr. Poirier is not independent because of his role as President and CEO.
Other than as noted above, none of the directors have a direct or indirect material relationship with TC Energy that could reasonably be expected to interfere with the exercise of his or her independent judgment.
The Board believes that it is important for it to be composed of qualified, diverse and knowledgeable directors. Due to the specialized nature of the energy infrastructure business, some of our directors can be associated with or sit on the boards of companies that ship natural gas or liquids through our pipeline systems. Transmission services on most of TC Energy’s pipeline systems in Canada and the U.S. are subject to regulation and, accordingly, we generally cannot deny transportation services to a creditworthy shipper. The Governance committee monitors relationships among directors to ensure that business associations do not affect the Board’s performance.
In circumstances where a director declares a material interest in any material contract or material transaction being considered at a meeting, the director is not present during the discussion and does not vote on the matter.
Financial literacy of directors
The board has determined that all of the members of its Audit Committee are financially literate. An individual is financially literate if he or she has the ability to read and understand a set of financial statements that present a breadth and level of complexity of accounting issues that are generally comparable to the breadth and complexity of the issues that can reasonably be expected to be raised by TC Energy's financial statements.
Communication with the board
Shareholder engagement allows us to hear directly from shareholders and other important stakeholders about any issues or concerns.
Shareholders, employees and others can contact the board directly by writing to:
Chair of the Board of Directors
c/o Corporate Secretary
TC Energy Corporation
450 1st Street S.W.
Calgary, Alberta T2P 5H1
Terms of reference for the Chair and CEO
TC Energy has created written position descriptions for the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chair.
Terms of Reference for the CEO
Terms of Reference for the Chair
Comparison to U.S. standards*
Comparison to Domestic Listing Standards Pursuant to Section 303A.11 of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) Company Manual.
The New York Stock Exchange Company Manual, Section 303A.11 (Foreign Private Issuer Disclosure), requires that foreign private issuers, such as TC Energy, disclose any significant ways in which their corporate governance practices differ from corporate governance practices followed by US domestic issuers under the NYSE listing standards.
Our corporate governance practices do not significantly differ from those required to be followed by US domestic issuers under the NYSE's listing standards.
As a Canadian reporting issuer with securities listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX), TC Energy has in place a system of corporate governance practices which comply with the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) National Instrument pertaining to audit committees and with the CSA's National Policy pertaining to corporate governance guidelines, as well as the New York Stock Exchange Corporate Governance Rules (NYSE Rules) applicable to foreign private issuers.
The Board of Directors of TC Energy has formally adopted and published a set of Corporate Governance Guidelines which affirm our commitment to maintaining a high standard of corporate governance. These guidelines are published on this website under the heading Corporate Governance - Corporate Governance Guidelines. As well, disclosure relating to TC Energy's corporate governance practices are published in our Management Information Circular under the heading Governance.
In the context of its listing on the NYSE, TC Energy is classified as a foreign private issuer and therefore only certain of the NYSE Rules are applicable to TC Energy. However, we benchmark our policies and procedures against major North American companies to assess our standards and we adopt best practices as appropriate. Some of our best practices are derived from the NYSE Rules and comply with applicable rules adopted by the SEC to meet the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.
*as of June 30, 2023
Lobbying, political contributions & corporate memberships
Lobbying overview and policies
TC Energy has several policies relating to lobbying activities and political contributions. This information Sheet provides a summary of our lobbying activities, political contributions and corporate memberships.
Lobbying registrations
TC Energy maintains registrations for in-house lobbyists where required by law. A list of the jurisdictions where TC Energy is registered, and links to those jurisdictions, where available, can be found in TC Energy’s Lobbying Registrations attached as Appendix A to the Information Sheet.
Board charter and committee information & charters
The Board of Directors of TC Energy Corporation and the Board of Directors of TransCanada Pipelines Limited and the respective board committees are identical in membership and meet concurrently. Governance documents are reviewed and approved by the Governance Committee. All governance documents of TC Energy Corporation apply equally to TransCanada Pipelines Limited and have been adopted by both boards.
Board charter
The board discharges its responsibilities directly and through committees. At regularly scheduled meetings, members of the board and management discuss a broad range of issues relevant to TC Energy's strategy and business interests and the board is responsible for the approval of TC Energy's Strategic Plan. In addition, the board receives reports from management on TC Energy's operational and financial performance. The board had six regularly scheduled meetings and eight special meetings in 2021.
The board has formally adopted and published a written charter which acknowledges responsibility for the stewardship of TC Energy. The charter addresses board composition and organization, and the board’s duties and responsibilities for managing the affairs of TC Energy and its oversight responsibilities with respect to: management and human resources; strategy and planning; financial and corporate issues; business and risk management; policies and procedures; compliance reporting and corporate communications; and general legal obligations of TC Energy.
The board also closely oversees any potential conflicts of interest between the company and its affiliates.
Board committees
The board has four standing committees: Audit Committee; Governance Committee; Health, Safety, Sustainability and Environment Committee; and Human Resources Committee. The board does not have an Executive Committee. The Audit, Human Resources and Governance committees are required to be composed entirely of independent directors. The Health, Safety, Sustainability and Environment Committee is required to have a majority of independent directors.
Each of the committees has the authority to retain advisors to assist in the discharge of their respective responsibilities. Each of the committees review their respective charters at least annually and, as required, recommend changes to the Governance Committee and to the board. Each of the committees also reviews their respective performance annually.
Below is a listing of the current members of the committees of the TC Energy Board of Directors with links to committee charters and member bios.
Audit Committee
Chair:
Una Power
Members:
Cheryl Campbell
Michael R. Culbert
Bill Johnson
Susan Jones
Thierry Vandal
Dheeraj Verma
This committee is comprised of seven independent directors and is mandated to assist the board in monitoring, among other things, the integrity of the financial statements of TC Energy, the compliance by TC Energy with legal and regulatory requirements, and the independence and performance of TC Energy's internal and external auditors. The committee is also mandated to review and recommend to the board approval of TC Energy's audited annual and unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and related management discussion and analysis, and other corporate disclosure documents, including information circulars, the annual information form, all prospectuses, other offering memoranda, and any financial statements required by regulatory authorities, before they are released to the public or filed with the appropriate regulatory authorities. In addition, the committee reviews and recommends to the board the appointment and compensation of the external auditor, oversees the accounting, financial reporting, control and audit functions, and recommends funding of TC Energy's pension plans.
The committee oversees the operation of an anonymous and confidential toll-free telephone number for employees, contractors and the public to call with respect to perceived accounting irregularities and ethical violations, and has set up a procedure for the receipt, retention, treatment and regular review of any such reported activities. This telephone number is published on TC Energy's website at TC Energy.com, on its intranet for employees and in the company's Annual Report to shareholders.
The committee reviews the audit plans of the internal and external auditors and meets with them at the time of each committee meeting, in each case both with and without the presence of management. The committee annually receives and reviews the external auditor's formal written statement of independence delineating all relationships between itself and TC Energy and its report on recommendations to management regarding internal controls and procedures, and ensures the rotation of the lead audit partner having primary responsibility for the audit as required by law. The committee pre-approves all audit services and all permitted non-audit services. In addition, the committee discusses with management TC Energy's material financial risk exposures and the actions management has taken to monitor and control such exposures, reviews the internal control procedures to oversee their effectiveness, monitors compliance with TC Energy's policies and codes of business ethics, and reports on these matters to the board. The committee reviews and approves the investment objectives and choice of investment managers for the Canadian pension plans and considers and approves any significant changes to those plans relating to financial matters.
There were five regularly scheduled meetings and one special meeting of the Audit Committee in 2021.
Governance Committee
Chair:
John E. Lowe
Members:
David MacNaughton
Mary Pat Salomone
Indira Samarasekera
Siim Vanaselja
This committee is comprised of five independent directors and is mandated to enhance TC Energy's governance through a continuing assessment of TC Energy's approach to corporate governance. The committee is also mandated to identify qualified individuals to become board members, to recommend to the board nominees for election as directors at each annual meeting of shareholders and to annually recommend to the board placement of directors on committees. The committee annually reviews the independence status of each director in accordance with written criteria in order to provide the Board with guidance for its annual determination of director independence and for the placement of members on committees. The committee also oversees the risk management activities of TC Energy. The committee monitors, reviews with management and makes recommendations related to TC Energy’s risk management programs and policies on an ongoing basis.
The committee reviews and reports to the board on the performance of individual directors, the Board as a whole and each of the committees, in conjunction with the chair of the board. The committee also monitors the relationship between management and the board, and reviews TC Energy's structures to ensure that the board is able to function independently of management. The committee chair annually reviews the performance of the chair of the board. The committee is also responsible for an annual review of director compensation and for the administration of the Share Unit Plan for Non-Employee Directors (), including the granting of units under the plan.
The committee monitors best governance practice and ensures any corporate governance concerns are raised with management. The committee also ensures the company has a best practice orientation package and monitors continuing education for all directors. In addition, the committee has responsibility for oversight of the company’s strategic planning process.
The committee reviews and makes recommendations to the board on the programs and practices utilized by the board and its committees to monitor the key business risks of the company.
There were four meetings of the Governance Committee in 2021.
View Governance Committee charter
Health, Safety, Sustainability and Environment Committee
Chair:
Mary Pat Salomone
Members:
Cheryl Campbell
Michael R. Culbert
John E. Lowe
David MacNaughton
Una Power
This committee is comprised of six independent directors and is mandated to monitor the health, safety, sustainability, security and environmental practices and procedures of TC Energy and its subsidiaries for compliance with applicable legislation, conformity with industry standards and prevention or mitigation of losses. The committee also considers whether the implementation of TC Energy's policies related to health, safety, sustainability and environmental matters are effective. The committee reviews reports and, when appropriate, makes recommendations to the board on TC Energy's policies and procedures related to health, safety, security and the environment. This committee meets separately with officers of TC Energy and its business units who have responsibility for these matters and reports to the board on such meetings.
There were four regularly scheduled meetings of the Health, Safety, Sustainability and Environment Committee in 2021.
View Health, Safety, Sustainability and Environment committee charter
Human Resources Committee
Chair:
Thierry Vandal
Members:
Bill Johnson
Susan Jones
Indira Samarasekera
Siim A. Vanaselja
Dheeraj Verma
This committee is comprised of six independent directors and is mandated to review the Company's human resources policies and plans, oversee the compensation programs, and to assess the performance of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and other senior executive officers of TC Energy against pre-established performance objectives. A report of senior management development and succession is prepared annually for presentation to the board which the committee reviews on an annual basis. The committee reports to the board with recommendations on the remuneration package for the senior executive officers of TC Energy, including the CEO. The committee approves all longer-term compensation including stock options and any major changes to TC Energy's company-wide compensation and benefit plans. The committee considers and approves any changes to TC Energy's pension plans relating to benefits provided under these plans. The committee is also responsible for the review of the executive share ownership guidelines.
There were five regularly scheduled meetings of the Human Resources Committee in 2021.
Code of Business Ethics
The Board of Directors of TC Energy Corporation and the Board of Directors of TransCanada Pipelines Limited and the respective Board committees are identical in membership and meet concurrently. The Governance committee reviews and approves all governance documents. These documents apply equally to TC Energy Corporation and TransCanada PipeLines Limited and have been adopted by both Boards.
TC Energy believes that effective corporate governance improves corporate performance and benefits all shareholders and that honesty and integrity are vital to ensuring good corporate governance.
The Code of Business Ethics (COBE) incorporates principles of good conduct and ethical and responsible behavior to guide our decisions and actions and the way we conduct business.
The Code applies to all employees, officers and directors as well as contract workers of TC Energy and its wholly-owned subsidiaries and operated entities in countries where we conduct business.
Ethics Help-Line
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has established an anonymous and confidential toll-free telephone number for employees, contractors, consultants, other stakeholders and the general public to report a concern about any perceived accounting irregularities, legal or ethical violations or other suspected breaches of the Code of Business Ethics. For more information, please visit our Contact page or call the Ethics Help-Line at:
Canada/US:
Mexico:
If calling from a cell phone please dial: 800-283-2783
If calling from a land line please dial: 0800-283-2783
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