Publications

The David & Sharon Johnston Centre for Corporate Governance Innovation conducts research in three major areas: Family Business Corporate Governance, Publicly Listed Company Corporate Governance, and Credit Union Governance. Learn more about our publications below.

Not-for-Profit Board Diversity & Inclusion: Is it essentially window-dressing?

AUTHOR | L. Robin Cardozo and Matt Fullbrook
DATE | Published by the Johnston Centre, Toronto, 2021, [21pp]

Real-World Perspectives: How COVID-19 is Affecting Corporate Governance

AUTHOR | Manini Sheker
DATE | Published by the Johnston Centre, Toronto, 2020, [12pp]

Director Sentiments in Alberta

The Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) conducted its latest cross-Canada Director Lens survey while Alberta was in the wake of recession and deep concerns about the province’s economic future. The feedback from Alberta’s director community reflected pessimism about the Province’s potential to thrive, and broader doubts about Canada’s long-term prosperity. ICD Calgary Chapter and the David and Sharon Johnston Centre for Corporate Governance Innovation (Johnston Centre) have partnered to examine these results, and identify opportunities for Alberta’s boards to manage broad economic risks and ensure that their companies survive and thrive.

Corporate Governance Insights: Ontario Long-Term Care

In 2021, researchers at the David & Sharon Johnston Centre for Corporate Governance Innovation embarked on a project to learn and share insights about corporate governance in Ontario’s long-term care organizations. This report summarizes the findings of our research, in five parts. In part one, a brief background on long-term care, and what the system looks like in Ontario...

Gouvernance des entreprises privées en 2020 : revue détaillée

AUTHOR | KPMG LLP & The David & Sharon Johnston Centre for Corporate Governance Innovation
DATE | Published by The David & Sharon Johnston Centre for Corporate Governance Innovation, Toronto, 2020, [19p]

Private Company Governance 2020: A Closer Look

Research Brief: Private Company Governance 2020: A Closer Look

AUTHOR | Manini Sheker
DATE | Published by The David & Sharon Johnston Centre for Corporate Governance Innovation, Toronto, 2020, [1p]

PRIVATE COMPANY GOVERNANCE BY THE NUMBERS

AUTHORS | Johnston Centre
DATE | Published by the Johnston Centre, Toronto, 2020, [1p brochure]

The Critical Importance of Effective Private Company Governance

L’importance Vitale d’une Solide Gouvernance dans L’entreprise Privée

The Long-Term Survival of Family Business

AUTHOR | Matt Fullbrook
DATE | Published by the Clarkson Centre for Board Effectiveness, Toronto, 2018, [17p]

Private Family Governance Survey Report

AUTHORS | Clarkson Centre for Board Effectiveness in partnership with the ICD Ontario Chapter
DATE | Published by the Clarkson Centre for Board Effectiveness, Toronto, 2017, [18p]

Family Firm Performance Study June 2013

AUTHORS | Antonio Spizzirri and Matt Fullbrook
DATE | June 2013

Publicly Listed Company Corporate Governance

The Digital Tsunami: How Boards Are Adjusting

*Direct PDF Download*
By David R. Beatty, Director, Johnston Centre for Corporate Governance Innovation

The Evolution of the Corporate Director 2018

*Direct PDF Download*
Published by the David & Sharon Johnston Centre for Corporate Governance Innovation, Toronto, 2020, [2p]

How are publicly-traded corporations controlled?

Overboarding Revisited: The unique history and uncertain future of busy directors on the S&P/TSX Composite Index

By Eva Athanasiu
Published by the Clarkson Centre for Board Effectiveness, Toronto, 2018, [9p]

All talk, no action? Considering the effects of CSA disclosure amendments on the representation of women on S&P/TSX 60 boards

By Eva Athanasiu, Clarkson Centre for Board Effectiveness in partnership with Hansell LLP
Published by the Clarkson Centre for Board Effectiveness, Toronto, 2018, [8p]

Canadian Director Compensation Analysis 2009-12

By Antonio Spizzirri
Published by the Clarkson Centre for Board Effectiveness, Toronto, 2014, [5p]

Do Canadian Corporations Pay for Performance? 2013 Pay for Performance Study

By Matt Fullbrook
January 2013

2013 CEO/Chair Structure in Canada compared to the US

By Antonio Spizzirri
Published by the Clarkson Centre for Board Effectiveness, Toronto, 2014, [5p]

2013 Pay for Performance Study

By Antonio Spizzirri
Published by the Clarkson Centre for Board Effectiveness, Toronto, 2012, [6p]

Majority Voting in Canada 2006-2011

By Sophie Langlois
Published by Clarkson Centre for Board Effectiveness, Toronto, 2012, [8p]

Before & After Say on Pay in Canada: 2009 - 2011

By Sophie Langlois
Published by Clarkson Centre for Board Effectiveness, Toronto, 2012, [5p]

Clarkson Centre SME Toolkit #3: Executive Succession Planning

By Matt Fullbrook
Published by Clarkson Centre for Board Effectiveness, Toronto, 2011, [5p]

Beyond the CEO: The Role of the Board in Ensuring Organizations have the Talent to Thrive

By CCBE and Knightsbridge Human Capital Solutions
Published by Knightsbridge Human Capital Solutions, Toronto, September 2011, [24p]

Au-delà du PDG: Le Conseil d'Administration Assume le Rôle de Veiller à ce que l' Organsation possède le Talent pour Prospérer

By CCBE and Knightsbridge Human Capital Solutions
Published by Knightsbridge Human Capital Solutions, Toronto, September 2011, [31p]

Clarkson Centre SME Toolkit #2: Creating Your Board Manual

By Matt Fullbrook
Published by Clarkson Centre for Board Effectiveness, Toronto, 2011, [5p]

Clarkson Centre SME Toolkit #1: Optimizing Board Skills and Meeting Effectiveness

By Matt Fullbrook
Published by the Clarkson Centre for Board Effectiveness, Toronto, May 2011 [6p]

Clarkson Centre Governance Monitor: 2010 Majority Voting

By David Comrie
Published by the Clarkson Centre for Board Effectiveness, Toronto, 2010 [4p] Jan 2011

Clarkson Centre Governance Monitor: 2010 Report on Corporate Governance in Canada

By David Comrie
Published by the Clarkson Centre for Board Effectiveness, Toronto, 2010 [7p] December 2010

2010 Governance update on Canadian Banks

By David Comrie
Published by the Clarkson Centre for Business Ethics and Board Effectiveness, Toronto, 2010 [6p] ,May 2010

2010 Report on Corporate Governance in Canada

By David Comrie and Matt Fullbrook
Published by the Clarkson Centre for Business Ethics and Board Effectiveness, Toronto, ON, 2010 [14p.] February 2010

Highlights from the Clarkson Centre's ongoing projects including the Board Shareholder Confidence Index, Small- and Medium-sized Enterprise Board Effectiveness Ratings, and Pay for Performance analysis.

Clarkson Centre - PricewaterhouseCoopers 2009 Directors Survey in collaboration with the Institute of Corporate Directors

In 2009, CCBE undertook a broad-scale survey of Canadian Directors in all sectors to determine current and emerging board effectiveness trends. Highlights from this survey are summarized in this report.

2006 Report on Corporate Governance in Canada

Timothy J. Rowley and David Comrie
Published by the Clarkson Centre for Business Ethics and Board Effectiveness, Toronto, ON, 2007 [8p.]

CCBE has been rating corporate governance practices on the S&P/TSX Index since 2002. Numerous positive changes have been observed over time, but this report demonstrates that room for improvement remains.

Elite Director Case Study: Peter Godsoe and Dual Class

Timothy J. Rowley and David Comrie
Published by the Clarkson Centre for Business Ethics and Board Effectiveness, Toronto, ON, 2007 [19p.]

In 2004, CCBE found that a small group of Directors were highly sought after by Canadian boards and that these individuals appeared to be driving positive change. This study shows a trend in which these "Elite Directors" advances towards best practices are being impaired by dual-share class structures.

Canada’s Corporate Elite: The Gatekeepers of Good Governance

Timothy J. Rowley and Matt Fullbrook
Of the nearly 1700 Directors on the S&P/TSX Composite Index, a small group of individuals sit on five or more boards. The companies represented by these Elite Directors have thus come to form a network which has raised governance practices standards for the rest of the Composite.