Maintaining high standards of corporate governance involves responding to emerging best practices. Recently, Enbridge agreed to allow a non-binding shareholder "say on pay".  

In February 2010, the company announced that it will allow shareholders to vote on a non-binding, advisory resolution (commonly referred to as "say on pay") on executive compensation, beginning at its annual meeting of shareholders in 2011.

"Offering our shareholders a 'say on pay' reflects Enbridge's commitment to shareholder engagement and to continuously improving our governance practices in view of emerging trends and best practices," says Alison Love, Enbridge Vice President, Corporate Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer. "Enbridge has a strong corporate governance culture built on integrity, accountability and transparency. We take a comprehensive approach to governance through the integration of empowerment and accountability, involving all employees up to the Board of Directors and ultimately to shareholders. Giving our shareholders this ability to provide input to the Board on executive compensation is consistent with this approach."

"Say on pay" is part of an investor-led campaign that started in 2007 when Canada's banks were asked if they would voluntarily provide shareholders with an annual advisory vote on executive compensation. With its recent decision, Enbridge joins a group of more than 25 major Canadian companies that have voluntarily adopted the non-binding "say on pay" policy. The boards of these companies have decided to add to the annual meeting agenda an advisory shareholder resolution to give shareholders an opportunity to express their satisfaction with the board’s approach to executive compensation disclosed in their information circulars.  Enbridge is one of the first energy companies in Canada to implement the policy.

Enbridge already adheres to Canadian securities laws in providing extensive disclosure of how much is paid to the company's senior executives and the basis on which this compensation is calculated. This information is provided through shareholder documents such as the company's management information circular.