LAW 600 - SNC Lavalin and Corporate Ethics

BE IT RESOLVED: The primary function of any corporation is earning profits for shareholders and stakeholders. As such, profits take precedence over honesty and/or morality. Respond to this statement in the context of the Canadian company, SNC Lavalin. (In February 2015, SNC Lavalin came under fire for bribery, money laundering, forgery, and fraud in relation to securing contracts with Libya, Nigeria, and other African and Asian countries).

1) Report on what SNC Lavalin, its employees, as well as directors and officers have done. 2) Describe the consequences for the company. Include what were the potential consequences? 3) Do you agree with the resolution above? If profits are not the primary concern of a corporation, then what is? 4) In a globalization context, should a corporation's ethical lapses in a foreign country be ignored provided that the corporation is acting lawfully in Canada?