Ethics: At the heart of corporate culture
“Ethics” refers to the principles that govern our behavior and decisions. How we behave in our relationships with one another is a reflection of the ethics we uphold.
The company’s mission, as well as its values and commitments, must serve to guide all of Hydro‑Québec’s activities.
Our values—the common good, inclusion, courage and innovation—reflect Hydro‑Québec’s social responsibility toward its customers and the community. But this is only possible with the ongoing support of the company’s directors, executives and staff.
Hydro‑Québec provides its employees with tools—including a Code of Ethics, training, communications on ethics, an ethics hotline and an email inbox—to help them respect and uphold the company’s commitments.
Code of Ethics and Rules of Professional Conduct for members of the Board of Directors, Executives of Hydro‑Québec and its wholly owned subsidiaries
The Code of Ethics and Rules of Professional Conduct for Board of Directors, Executives of Hydro‑Québec and its wholly owned subsidiaries was first approved by the Board of Directors in June 1994 and has been updated and enhanced over the years.
The code applies to members of the Board of Directors, its President and CEO and other executives of Hydro‑Québec and its wholly owned subsidiaries.
Code of Ethics
The employee Code of Ethics, which applies to Hydro‑Québec employees and its wholly owned subsidiaries, sets high standards of judgment and behaviour in the professional activities of all Hydro‑Québec employees. The code also applies to Hydro‑Québec’s President and CEO and other executives. Published in 1996, it has been periodically updated since.
The Code of Ethics is also available in a podcast format and comes in a full length completed version [57 min. 42 se.] or six episodes series - in French only.
Code of Ethics, version adapted to 90% subsidiaries [PDF 5.6 MB]
Baladodiffusion intégrale
Supplier Code of Conduct
The Supplier Code of Conduct sets out Hydro‑Québec’s expectations with respect to suppliers with whom it has a business relationship (any connection or exchange, verbal or written, with or without a contract) as well as their subcontractors. The code is in addition to the applicable laws, regulations, standards and rules in force in Québec as well as any existing contractual commitments between Hydro‑Québec and its suppliers.
Ethics are the cornerstone of this code. This means that suppliers must, in their business relations with Hydro‑Québec, act with integrity, honesty and professionalism and adhere to the highest ethical standards while respecting human rights and the environment, in order to maintain and strengthen public confidence in the company.
Reporting Misconduct or Harassment or Discrimination
In order to preserve trust in Hydro‑Québec and maintain high standards of integrity and ethics, Hydro‑Québec’s Board of Directors and management make a misconduct reporting service available to all. This service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Are You Experiencing a Concern at Work?
Share your observations of workplace misconduct or concern with us by completing one of the two secure forms below or by calling 1 866 384 4783. All reports are treated as confidential. Individuals who make reports in good faith, or who cooperate with a validation or investigation, are protected from retaliation. Persons who are not HQ employees may disclose a wrongdoing to the Protecteur du citoyen in order to benefit from the immunities and reprisal protections provided by the Act.
Report Discrimination or Harassment
I am experiencing or witnessing harassment (psychological or sexual) or discrimination, namely:
- distressing conduct that manifests itself in repeated behaviors, words, actions or gestures that are hostile or unwanted. This conduct affects the dignity or psychological or physical integrity of the victim and results in a harmful work environment for the victim
- a single instance of distressing, hostile or unwanted conduct that is severe, demeaning to the victim’s dignity or psychological or physical integrity and results in a harmful work environment for the victim and a continuing harmful effect
- a situation in which there is an intentional or unintentional distinction, exclusion or preference based on any of the following grounds: race, color, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, age (except as provided by law), religion, political convictions, language, ethnic or national origin, social condition, disability or the use of any means to remedy such disability
Report misconduct involving Hydro‑Québec or one of its subsidiaries
I have witnessed or experienced behavior which is in violation of the Code of Ethics for Hydro‑Québec Employees, the code of ethics of a subsidiary in which Hydro‑Québec owns at least a 90% stake, the Code of Ethics and Rules of Professional Conduct for Directors and Executives of Hydro‑Québec and its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries, or the Hydro‑Québec Supplier Code of Conduct. Examples:
- a conflict of interests or collusion
- fraud
- an act of corruption
- theft of goods, time, ressources, etc.
- an act or omission that seriously compromises or could seriously compromise a person’s health or safety, or the environment
Hydro‑Québec: https://app.integritycounts.ca/org/Ethique
Subsidiaries: https://integritycounts.ca/org/HydroquebecFiliales (in French only)
You can also read the Policy for Reporting Misconduct and Situations Involving Discrimination or Harassment and the FAQ.
Transmission Standards of Conduct and distribution and transmission Codes of conduct
Hydro‑Québec has adopted standards of conduct relating to electric power transmission in addition to codes governing electricity supply by the Distributor. The codes are designed to ensure a level playing field for all market players.
A short description of each document is provided below:
Transmission Standards of Conduct: These standards are designed to ensure the absence of discrimination in the power transmission service. They govern employee relations regardless of the organizational structure of the company.
According to the standards, the following information must be published:
The following information will be published, if applicable:
- A list of the employee-staffed facilities shared by transmission function employees and wholesale marketing function employees
- A list of Affiliates that employ wholesale marketing function employees
- Employee transfer notices
- Emergency situations and measures
- Disclosure of non-public transmission function information
- Voluntary consent of a transmission service customer
Transmission Provider Code of Conduct (financial aspects): This Code of Conduct is intended to prevent, through rules governing transactions between the Transmission Provider and Affiliates, financing of the latter, in whole or in part, by transmission customers.
Code of Ethics on Conducting Calls for Tenders: Ensures that the Distributor’s tendering process is conducted fairly for all electricity suppliers.
Distributor Code of Conduct: This Code regulates non-tendered electricity supply transactions. It ensures that the Generator does not benefit from any unfair advantage related to supply transactions between the Distributor and the Generator. It also includes rules designed to prevent Affiliates’ business operations from being subsidized, in whole or in part, by electricity service customers.
The application of these codes is the subject of an annual accountability report to the Régie de l’énergie (in French only) when the Transmission Provider’s and Distributor’s annual reports are filed.
Chief Compliance Officer
Hydro‑Québec’s Chief Compliance Officer for Transmission Standards of Conduct and distribution and transmission Codes of conduct is:
François RamsayVice President – Corporate, Legal and Regulatory Affairs and Chief
Governance Officer
Édifice Jean-Lesage
20e étage
75, boulevard René‑Lévesque Ouest
Montréal (Québec) H2Z 1A4