Posts

HOUSTON, June 22, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MRC Global Inc. (NYSE: MRC), the leading global distributor of pipe, valves and fittings (PVF) and other infrastructure products and services to diversified energy, industrial and gas utility end-markets published its 2022 Environmental, Social Responsibility & Corporate Governance Report on www.mrcglobal.com. The 2022 Report describes MRC Global’s strategic efforts to:

• Participate in the Energy Transition
• Minimize Greenhouse Gasses and Reduce Pollution
• Reduce its Carbon Footprint
• Maintain a Safe Workplace
• Develop a Diverse Workforce and Inclusive Workplace
• Govern ESG Risks and Opportunities

“Our employees take pride in working for a company that is committed to operating sustainably, ethically and efficiently to create value for all of our stakeholders,” Rob Saltiel, President & CEO, said. “Our company’s future success depends on the continued progress of these initiatives and their integration with our corporate strategy.”

MRC Global made two organizational changes in 2021 to emphasize the growing importance of ESG initiatives to its shareholders, customers, suppliers and employees. First, MRC Global enhanced its internal ESG Committee with executive-level leaders to further integrate ESG into the company’s business strategy. Second, the company appointed its first Vice President of ESG to lead the global effort, which demonstrates our commitment to ESG.

Other highlights include:

• Aligning ESG goals with selected United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for the first time,
• Increasing the use of renewable electricity in operations to 44% (up from 21% in 2020),
• Reducing carbon emissions emitted by the company’s global fleet of vehicles by 10%,
• Creating the new Downstream, Industrial and Energy Transition business sector to track revenue generated from alternative and renewable energy projects,
• Maintaining safety performance that exceeds industry peer averages,
• Increasing the number of women in director and above positions globally to 24% (up from 19% in 2020), and
• Increasing total recycling tonnage in the U.S. by 56% since 2017.
  

The full report is available online at www.mrcglobal.com under Investor Relations.

About MRC Global Inc.
Headquartered in Houston, Texas, MRC Global (NYSE: MRC) is the leading global distributor of pipe, valves, fittings (PVF) and other infrastructure products and services to diversified end-markets including the gas utilities, downstream, industrial and energy transition, upstream production, and midstream pipeline sectors. With over 100 years of experience, MRC Global has provided customers with innovative supply chain solutions, technical product expertise and a robust digital platform from a worldwide network of 210 locations including valve and engineering centers. The company’s unmatched quality assurance program offers 250,000 SKUs from 10,000 suppliers, simplifying the supply chain for over 10,000 customers. Find out more at www.mrcglobal.com

Contact:

Monica Broughton

Investor Relations

MRC Global Inc.

Monica.Broughton@mrcglobal.com

832-308-2847

TORONTO, June 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Crown Realty Partners (“Crown”) today released its 2021 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Report. This is the firm’s second annual report and is available to read or download here: Crown’s 2021 ESG Report.

Crown’s 2021 report builds upon its inaugural ESG Report published last year, which provided the company’s first holistic view of its ESG efforts. The report’s theme, Building Resilience, demonstrates how Crown’s model of active, integrated management can preserve and create the greatest value to colleagues, investors, office communities and other stakeholders.

“ESG is at the core of Crown’s culture. Responsible investment practices together with our value-add mindset are our key differentiators. To build a meaningful ESG program, you need a strong on-the-ground approach along with a clear strategy and thoughtful governance,” said Emily Hanna, Managing Partner, Investments. “Over the past year, we have made significant progress advancing our ESG goals. Crown’s high standard of transparency reinforces our commitment to our ESG journey."

The 2021 ESG Report shares progress over the last year across priority areas where Crown believes it can have a meaningful impact. Highlights include:

• Receiving Canadian Honours for our GRESB score of 94 and ranking of 5th out of 19 North American un-listed office peers
• Being recognized as a top Canadian Small and Medium Sized Employer
• Achieving sustainability certifications for 98% of our Fund Portfolio
• Incorporating ESG-specific goals in Crown’s employee performance review process
• Integrating climate change considerations into the investment process for new fund acquisitions
  

This year’s report represents Crown’s second year of including recommended disclosures from the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board Real Estate sub-sector. It is the firm’s first year working towards alignment with the recommended disclosures from the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures, acknowledging the importance of climate change and decarbonization for the real estate industry.

About Crown

Crown is an integrated commercial real estate investment and management firm focused on value-add opportunities across Canada, with approximately $3B of real assets under management. Founded in 2001, Crown has a well-established track record, an experienced team and takes a hands-on approach to provide superior returns for investors and better workplaces for tenants.

For further information, please contact:

Emily Hanna, PhD
Managing Partner, Investments
Crown Realty Partners
647.729.2609
ehanna@crp-cpmi.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/751e7562-a2c4-4c06-87ab-f20594a78e2f

L to R:  John MacKenzie, Deputy Mayor, Saint John, Gerry Lowe, Councillor, Saint John, Greg Stewart, Councillor, Saint John, Hon. Gary Crossman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Donna Reardon, Mayor, Saint John, Roger D’Hollander, COO, Damera Bus Corp, David Hickey, Councillor, Saint John, and Deniz Cetin, CCO, Karsan Automotive

SAINT JOHN, New Brunswick, June 20, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Damera Bus Corp (Damera) and the City of Saint John are marking the introduction of the Karsan e-JEST – the first electric, low entrance, 20-foot transit bus in North America – which will officially be added to the Saint John Transit fleet later this summer. 

“Damera is incredibly proud to partner with the City of Saint John and Saint John Transit to bring cleaner transit to the city and support Saint John’s transition to zero-emission transportation,” said Raj Mahadeo, CEO of Damera. “Saint John Transit is establishing itself as a public transit leader by transitioning to on-demand services with these buses. The size and quiet operation of the JEST is perfectly suited for residential areas and on-demand services. We hope this serves as inspiration for municipalities across the country aiming to do the same.”

The City of Saint John is transitioning to an emission-free future with an ambitious goal to run all Saint John Transit buses on electricity by 2040.

Mayor Donna Reardon says staff and Council are onboard and ready to lead the way in New Brunswick, stating that “Green transportation is the future of public transit systems around the world, and the City of Saint John will be a part of it. We are not only a forward-thinking community, but also a forward moving one; known as a city of firsts, and for always moving forward.”

Six 20-foot JEST buses will be put into service across Saint John this September as part of the City’s Transforming Transit Program. The program, first announced in 2021, will transform the municipal transit system using electric buses and an on-demand bus service expected to be launched later this year.

“With the plan in place, customers will enjoy the luxury of riding new, electric buses, and also have a highly reliable service that allows them to schedule the arrival of their bus and know when it will deliver them to their destination. It’s a big win for everyone and enhances the ease and quality of life our residents enjoy,” said Nick Cameron, Chair of the Saint John Transit Commission.

Damera, one of Canada’s leading suppliers of bus and transit solutions, has a wide range of zero-emission buses. Damera’s team of experts has extensive knowledge and experience in the bus and transportation industry and are actively introducing products starting with the JEST six-metre mini-bus and expanding into 10 and 12-metre versions to help all levels of government achieve their net-zero goals.

The JEST city bus is a European-style, battery-powered bus with a 15-year life cycle built by Karsan, a European market leading bus and coach manufacturing company. It is equipped with a BMW power train providing an emission-free range of 210 km. The JEST has a regenerative braking system that provides energy recovery by allowing itself to recharge its batteries at a rate of 25 per cent. The JEST city bus has been the transit choice throughout many European countries including Germany, France, Italy, Romania and Portugal due to its high safety rating, passenger safety, maneuverability in tight situations and compact design.

The City of Saint John is one of several municipalities across Canada working with Damera to incorporate the JEST as they advance their fleets' electrification. In April 2022, Saint John unveiled its plan to eliminate combustion-engine vehicles in its fleet by 2040. Over time, as buses within the fleet reach the end of their lifecycle, Saint John Transit plans to replace them with various size electric buses.

Electric buses do not produce harmful exhaust emissions or other greenhouse gases, are more energy-efficient, are quieter, provide a smoother experience for passengers, and use fewer parts than standard diesel buses making them a cost-effective and sustainable choice for public transit systems.

“We are excited to bring the newest in electric bus technology to Canada and help put it into service here in Saint John,” said Roger D’Hollander, COO, Damera. “Transitioning to clean transportation is the right thing to do for our health and environment, and it’s the smart thing to do for our communities in terms of efficiency and cost savings.”

“We are pleased to support the City of Saint John’s transition to electric buses. Replacing fossil fuel powered transit is a key step in the green energy transition and reaching net zero through electrification. As a Sustainable Electric Company, we're dedicated to helping create a sustainable future for our city, community and province," said Jessica DeLong, Manager of Stakeholder Relations, Saint John Energy.

For media inquiries:

Raman Singh
Senior Associate, Strategic Communications, Sussex Strategy Group
rsingh@sussex-strategy.com

Erin White, Communications Manager, City of Saint John
erin.white@saintjohn.ca

About Damera Bus Corp
Damera Bus Sales Canada Corporation (Damera), one of the leading bus suppliers in Canada, is a subsidiary of the Mississauga Bus Group of Companies. Known for its experienced team with extensive knowledge in the bus, coach and transit industry throughout Canada as well as their after-sales support, Damera is a top supplier choice within the electric and hydrogen transit and coach space as cities, municipalities and private operators move into the zero-emissions era.

About Karsan
Karsan Automotive has been producing commercial vehicles in its state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Bursa, Turkey since 1981 and manages the entire value chain, from R&D to production, marketing, sales and after-sales support. Karsan’s Bursa facility has the capacity to manufacture up to 19,870 vehicles a year on a single shift. As the leading brand in the electric minibus market, the e-JEST has been the best-selling model in its class in 2020 and 2021 in Europe. Karsan’s JEST, Atak, Star and e-ATA models range from six, 10, 12 and 18m fully electric buses, with some models in partnership with BMW. It has a Level-four Autonomous bus, the e-ATAK, certified and operating in Michigan, the United States, and Norway.  The autonomous e-ATAK will be introduced in Canada by Damera Bus Corp.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d20121d1-d18e-4a8d-8e90-dd81388cc477

TORONTO, June 20, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oceana Canada is celebrating a significant milestone in the fight to end Canada’s contribution to the global plastic pollution crisis, following today’s federal government announcement banning six categories of the most commonly found plastics polluting Canada’s shorelines and oceans.

The ban will gradually eliminate the Canadian production and export of plastic bags, cutlery, stir sticks, six-pack rings, straws and some takeout containers. This is a meaningful contribution to Canada’s commitment to ban harmful single-use plastics and hold companies responsible for doing their part to reduce plastic waste. The announcement also positions Canada as a global leader in efforts to reduce single-use plastics.

Canadian plastic manufacturers will have until the end of 2022 to halt production of the newly banned plastics and until the end of 2023 to stop selling them. The ban also ends the export of banned plastics by 2025, making Canada the second country ever to do so. The final ban also closes technical loopholes from its previous draft that would have allowed more durable single-use plastic options to replace items of common use, such as cutlery and checkout bags.

“Today’s announcement ensures that Canada is embarking on a true transition away from unnecessary single-use plastics; this victory means that billions of plastic items each year that otherwise could have threatened sea life like whales and turtles will no longer be adding to the global plastic disaster,” said Anthony Merante, Plastics Campaigner at Oceana Canada. “We will continue working with Canadians and the government to ensure more unnecessary single-use plastics are added to the list of banned items moving forward.”

Since 2019, Oceana Canada has been advocating to reduce plastic pollution, meeting with decision makers, publishing reports on the state of plastic and putting forward science-based recommendations to achieve zero plastic waste. Combined, the elements banned today will remove 33 billion units of single-use plastics from the total waste entering the oceans every year.

Oceana Canada’s latest market research shows that 90 per cent of people across Canada support a ban on single-use plastics and two-thirds want to see the proposed ban expanded to include more harmful plastic products. To date, more than 160,000 Canadians have signed Oceana Canada’s petition calling on the federal government to enact a strong ban on single-use plastics. For more information, please visit www.oceana.ca/Plastics.

Oceana Canada was established as an independent charity in 2015 and is part of the largest international advocacy group dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Oceana Canada has successfully campaigned to end the shark fin trade, make rebuilding depleted fish populations the law, improve the way fisheries are managed and protect marine habitat. We work with civil society, academics, fishers, Indigenous Peoples and the federal government to return Canada’s formerly vibrant oceans to health and abundance. By restoring Canada’s oceans, we can strengthen our communities, reap greater economic and nutritional benefits and protect our future. Find out more at www.oceana.ca

Media contacts: Angela Pinzon, Pilot PMR, angela.pinzon@pilotpmr.com, 647-295-0517; Alex Mangiola, Pilot PMR, alex.mangiola@pilotpmr.com, 416-460-3575; Lesley Wilmot, Oceana Canada, lwilmot@oceana.ca, 647-535-6326. Media assets are available here.

CN is building the premier railway of the 21st century by investing in Quebec

MONTREAL, June 20, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CN (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CNI) announced today plans to invest approximately C$335 million in Quebec in 2022. This includes investments in technology, rolling stock units and company-wide decarbonization initiatives, as well as network improvements. These investments will power sustainable growth and ensure the continued safe movement of goods in Quebec and everywhere on CN’s transcontinental network.

“We continue to make significant investments in our network, technology, and capacity. We are building the premier railroad of the 21st century to do even more for our customers, railroaders, shareholders, and the communities in which we operate.”

• Sean Finn, Executive Vice-President, Corporate Services and Chief Legal Officer of CN

“At a time when the resilience of our supply chains is more important than ever, investing in our rail transportation system ensures essential goods can reach Canadians on time. Railways play an important role in growing our economy, and I am pleased to see CN taking this important step to strengthen our rail networks. Today’s announcement will help improve the fluidity of our rail network against the unprecedented disruptions to service we have seen in the last two years, and is good news for Canadians.

• The Honourable Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport, Government of Canada

“For over 100 years, CN has been at the heart of the development of Quebec companies. We note that the $335 million in investments announced also include a portion for decarbonization initiatives and for bolstering the safety of their railway infrastructure, which we applaud. For the FCCQ and the network of chambers of commerce, this improved access to responsible freight transportation services is critical to encouraging the transition to new ESG business practices.”

• Charles Milliard, President and CEO of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec

Maintenance program highlights include:

• Replacing 27 miles of rail;
• Installing more than 118,000 new railroad ties;
• Rebuilding 38 road crossing surfaces; and
• Maintenance work on bridges, culverts, signal systems, and other track infrastructure.

Quebec in numbers:

• Capital investments: more than $2.2 billion in the last five years
• Employees: approximately 3,330
• Railroad route miles operated: 2,044
• Community partnerships: $2 million in 2021
• Local spending: $1.7 billion in 2021
• Cash taxes paid: $89 million in 2021

Forward-looking Statements
Certain statements included in this news release constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and under Canadian securities laws. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. The Company cautions that its assumptions may not materialize and that current economic conditions render such assumptions, although reasonable at the time they were made, subject to greater uncertainty. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of terminology such as “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “assumes,” “outlook,” “plans,” “targets,” or other similar words. Forward-looking statements reflect information as of the date on which they are made. CN assumes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect future events, changes in circumstances, or changes in beliefs, unless required by applicable securities laws. In the event CN does update any forward-looking statement, no inference should be made that CN will make additional updates with respect to that statement, related matters, or any other forward-looking statement.

About CN

CN is a world-class transportation leader and trade-enabler. Essential to the economy, to the customers, and to the communities it serves, CN safely transports more than 300 million tons of natural resources, manufactured products, and finished goods throughout North America every year. As the only railroad connecting Canada’s Eastern and Western coasts with the U.S. South through a 18,600-mile rail network, CN and its affiliates have been contributing to community prosperity and sustainable trade since 1919. CN is committed to programs supporting social responsibility and environmental stewardship.

Contacts:

Media	Investment Community
Mathieu Gaudreault	Paul Butcher
Senior Advisor	Vice-President
Media Relations	Investor Relations
514-399-7956 media@cn.ca	(514) 399-0052 investor.relations@cn.ca