The Financial Post reports in its Friday, Dec. 5, edition that Enbridge's latest moves can be seen as a way for it to get out in front of activist investors. The Post's Barry Critchley writes that Enbridge has taken decisive steps to appease a group of investors who may believe it is not acting in the best interests of shareholders and who take a run at affecting change. An unnamed banker says: "Companies are often so focused on what they are doing that they tend to operate in a box. On the other hand, activist investors are thinking outside the box at all times because they focus on all the angles." Mr. Critchley says that is the new reality for companies. Shareholder activism has recently gained a new presence. Activism makes management's task of growing the business and giving the shareholder their due reward even tougher. Norton Rose Fulbright partner Ava Yaskiel says shareholder activism may increase in Canada because of the increased involvement of United States funds, which are used to fighting such battles. She says if the potential payoff is deemed to be big enough, "an activist shareholder would be willing to play it out."