Canada's Position on Corporate Social Responsibility in a Developing Country Context.

This research addressed uncertainties around corporate social responsibility (CSR) and its ability to deliver sustainable development. Taking a Canadian focus, this thesis provides a theoretical framework for synthesizing and analyzing key aspects of the CSR literature. Further, an analysis of the discourse on CSR is presented, highlighting the differences between the Canadian federal government's CSR position from that of the positions of identified international development agencies. An analysis of the discourse and practice of CSR is offered through the evaluation of two Canadian corporations operating in developing countries. As the findings illustrate, the societal position on CSR is the ideal CSR position to promote development, with the shareholder position being the least suitable. As the Canadian position on CSR was revealed to be shareholder oriented, changes in the design, motivation and practice of CSR are needed for Canada's CSR agenda to adopt the more development compatible CSR position. --Leaf ii.