At Suncor, we recognize the importance of stakeholders having a say in how we do business. In fact, our continued success as a sustainable energy company depends heavily on earning the trust of residents in communities where we operate.

Suncor respects the values and culture of each stakeholder. When disagreement with stakeholders occurs and cannot be resolved, our employees will always demonstrate respect for the diversity of views presented.

As part of this Report on Sustainability, we've chosen to include some stakeholder “voices,” as well as commentary from some of our employees via video. These are included in the "See the Possibilities" section of this website.

By understanding stakeholder issues, we can make better business decisions. Identifying stakeholder concerns and responding appropriately helps us develop timely, cost-effective and mutually beneficial solutions. In turn, these constructive approaches help us to create stronger, safer and healthier communities for our employees, their families and local residents.

Our Stakeholder Relations Policy reflects our strong and ongoing commitment to collaboration, transparency and respect for all views. It guides our efforts as we interact with stakeholders, whether it's about openly and honestly communicating our business plans, updating neighbours about our ongoing operations or expansion plans, or getting involved in community initiatives. It also highlights our strong desire to develop long-term relationships between employees, community members, shareholders, customers, organizations and governments.

Our stakeholders

We interact with a wide range of individuals or groups who could be affected by our operations or who could, through their own actions, have implications for our business. These interactions occur through workshops, committees, regulatory processes and informal meetings. Our consultation office in Fort McMurray is also an opportunity for visitors to pose questions and concerns directly to Suncor.

Our stakeholders include:

• Employees
• Community residents and landowners
• Aboriginal communities
• Trappers
• Shareholders
• Governments and regulators
• Non-government organizations
• Environmental groups
• Business groups, customers and suppliers

Creating opportunities for dialogue

We work hard to ensure our dialogue with stakeholders is productive and fosters good decision-making. Stakeholders are encouraged to define how they want to be consulted, and we strive to remain flexible and responsive to their preferences. We are also careful to balance the need for engagement and transparency with legal obligations relating to confidentiality and securities regulations. In cases of disagreement with stakeholders where it cannot be resolved, we are committed to respecting the diversity of views presented.

In addition to meeting with environmental non-profit groups, Suncor has engaged in a number of community partnerships. Notable examples include the organizations listed in the right column.

Suncor plans to build on the success of these partnerships. By recognizing the attention on oil sands by a range of environmental groups, Suncor's 2009 stakeholder plans include defining our relationship with those groups, outlining current issues, and developing an engagement strategy that will help inform and guide our interactions with these important stakeholders.

Suncor also has supported stakeholder engagement research at the University of Calgary's International Resource Industries and Sustainability (IRIS). Dr. Francis Bowen's work, commissioned by the Research Network for Business Sustainability, is intended to help create a better understanding of the who, how and why of community engagement, including three distinct approaches.

To support interactions with stakeholders, Suncor offers stakeholder relations training to its employees and contractors. Three training modules provide appropriate and meaningful stakeholder information and tools for those that either interact with stakeholders or make decisions that could affect them. Participants learn about Suncor's policy, guidelines and commitment to stakeholder relations, as well as stakeholder communication and problem identification and resolution.