News and archives 

2004/05/06/07/08

October 2008

• The financial crisis and SRI - a special series of reports

• Homer-Dixon predicts climate change will drive public policy

• University Green Report Card

• Michael Jantzi of Jantzi Research on the impact of the market crisis on SRI

September 2008

• Socially Responsible Investment in Canada

• Oilsands developmnet questioned by SRI investors

August 2008

• SIO releases three year plan with focus on advisors, foundations and pensions

• Handbook released on responsible investment across asset classes

July 2008

• Survey shows mutual funds overwhelmingly favour corporate management in proxy voting

• Ethical Funds withdraws climate change resolutions

June 2008

• SIO calls for rules making it mandatory that advisors ask their clients about SRI

• SIO supports securities commission guidelines on environmental issues

• Canadian and Swedish investors achieve human rights assessment at Goldcorp

March/April 2008

• GLOBE recognizes Ethical Funds with Sustainable Investment and Banking Award

• Say on pay proposals rack up large margins of investor support

• British Columbia Investment Management Corp, keeps "watching brief" on climate change securities

January/February 2008

• Ethical Funds presses companies for action on climate change

• Meritas asks Canadian banks for say on management pay

• Batirente targets airlines on sustainability

• Scotia Securities launches green fund

December 2007

• SIO launches charitable fund with Tides Canada Foundation

• Desjardins Securities issues new portfolios focused on companies with women executives

• The Ethical Funds Company, Mackenzie Financial win Canadian Investment Awards for SRI

• Innovest, F&C and KLD recognized at ESG Leaders Awards in Paris

November 2007

• Investors Group announces Summa Fund family

• Inhance Investment Management partners with BMO Nesbitt Burns to offer socially responsible managed account mandate

• The Ethical Funds Company launches new global dividend fund

• SIO calls for transparency on socially responsible investment and proxy voting for Ontario pension plans

 

July/August 2006

• Human rights in China proposal receives one-third support at Nortel

• Montreal Climate Exchange to establish trading in greenhouse gas emissions

June 2006

• Giant Norwegian Government Pension Fund drops Wal-Mart, cites US and Canadian anti-union activity among other human rights and labour violation

• Federal government launches CSR roundtables for resource industries

• SIO and Pensions at Work to conduct study on global public policy and socially responsible investment

 

May 2006

• Five Canadian asset and fund managers sign on to UN Principles for Responsible Investment

• SIO welcomes UN Principles, pledges to monitor progress of Canadian signatories

• Alcan resolution on Indian bauxite project achieves 36 per cent shareholder support

• Power Corp. resolution on human rights in China gets 10 per cent shareholder approval

April 2006

 

• Globe 2006: No legal barriers to integrating environmental, social and governance factors in investment

• Globe 2006: Lack of public policy behind Canada's poor showing on environment and investment

• Jantzi Research wins Capital Markets Award at 2006 Globe Awards for Environmental Excellence

• CPP Investment Board joins global group of investors looking at non-traditional financial analysis

 

March 2006

 

• Real Assets re-launches as Inhance Investment Management: Adds three new funds to its family

• Canadian SRI investors file 28 social and environmental shareholder proposals with Canadian firms

• Analytical framework released to translate sustainable development into financial valuation models

 

February 2006

 

• Amnesty Canada kicks off Share Power Campaign to tap power of ordinary investors

• Meritas launches Monthly Dividend and Income Fund

• The tipping point: Making SRI mainstream

• Investor coalitions target Alcan and Barrick for shareholder action on international development issues

 

January 2006

 

• Election 2006: The federal parties on pensions and SRI

• The Ethical Funds Company endorses Canadian Boreal Initiative to preserve forest ecosystem

• Canadian 2006 SRI Institutional Investment Directory Available

 

December 2005

 

• The Ethical Funds Company announces objectives, companies targeted for 2006 shareholder action

• Desjardins Adopts New Sustainable Development Policy

• Human Rights a challenge for investors in China: experts tell SIO AGM

 

November 2005

 

• Investment in China: the human and environmental factors: public forum in Toronto, Nov 16, 2005

• SIO welcomes CPP Investment Board responsible investment policy

• SIO continues to press for pension transparency rules

• Proceedings of Canadian Social Investment Conference 2005

 

September 2005

• SIO calls for reform of national pension plans:  Open the books on social and environmental policies and shareholder votes

• An open letter to Canadians:  Help us bring about federal pension reform

• Une lettre ouverte à Canadiens:  Aidez-nous  à susciter une réforme des pensions  fédérales

• Proceedings of Canadian Social Investment Conference 2005

July 2005

• Canadian Social Investment Conference attracts over 200, largest ever SRI conference in Canada

• Canadian mining companies slow to respond to rising AIDS epidemic: The Ethical Funds Company

• Canadian and international groups call on Canadian government to investigate Anvil Mining and deaths at protest in Congo

June 2005

• Socially responsible investments up 27 per cent in two years, according to survey

• McDonald's discloses nutritional efforts after Real Assets files shareholder resolution

• The Ethical Funds Company adds clout to shareholder action program

April 2005

• Regulators release rules to open up mutual fund voting

• Socially responsible shareholder proposals double in 2005;climate change, human rights leading issues

• Meritas divests from Magna over management control, compensation

February 2005

• UN Special Envoy Stephen Lewis to headline Canadian Social Investment Conference June 12-14 in Toronto

• Jantzi Social Index outperforms conventional indicies in first five years

• SIO expresses disappointment in securities regulators' governance guidelines

• Report on institutional investor activism calls for single Canadian regulator and clearer definition of social responsibility

• SIO releases directory of institutional SRI managers and consultants

December 2004

• Petro-Canada, Terasen, Canadian Tire and Great West Life removed from international SRI indexes, Alcan recognized as world sector leader

• The Ethical Funds Company calls for international right to sue companies for human rights violations

   

October 2004

• The Ethical Funds Company launches two new funds

• Real Assets divests from Gildan Activewear

• Institutional investors' role in community investment growing: study

September 2004

• SIO calls for far-reaching reforms to protect investors on social and environmental issues

• Opinion- SIO commentary in Investment Executive magazine on mutual fund voting and investor democracy

 

July 2004

 

• SIO calls for national pension reform on SRI and voting disclosure 

• Election Special: Read the federal party responses to SIO's questionnaire on federal "Right to Know" SRI legislation

   

June 2004

• Election Special: Read the federal party responses to SIO's questionnaire on federal "Right to Know" SRI legislation

• SIO, SRI community, support rules to make mutual fund  voting transparent

• Shareholder concern for climate change at Petro-Canada triples in one year

• Meritas Funds witholds support for Magna board

 

April 2004

• SIO urges institutional investors to support climate change disclosure and action

• Three Canadian energy companies face shareholder proposals on climate change

 

March 2004

• The Ethical Funds Company issues new voting policies aimed at combating corporate scandals

• Meritas Mutual Funds hits half-million-dollar mark in community investments

• Bank of Montreal supports shareholder proposal on environmental transparency

• Report on Business Magazine releases groundbreaking corporate rankings

 

February 2004

• SIO endorses new national agenda for corporate responsibility and accountability

   

• New SRI book, Global Profit and Global Justice, released by Real Assets CEO Deb Abbey

   

• Meritas Mutual Funds launches rebalancing portfolio SRI fund

January 2004

• Suncor and VanCity get top marks in sustainability reporting survey

2003 December 2003 Ethical Funds obtains agreement from Intrawest on environment Real Assets launches two new socially responsible mutual funds Solidarity Fund divests of Gildan Activewear, citing sweatshops in Honduras October 2003 Dofasco praised, Enbridge dropped from Dow Jones Sustainability Index IPSCO adopts Ethical Funds’ environmental reporting proposal Mavrix Sierra Fund reaches out to SRI community, joins Social Investment Organization Canada underfunds its community investment sector: National Community Investment Study August 2003 Canadian social and environmental resolutions reach 13 this year, up from two in 2002 Acuity Funds joins United Nations program to improve sustainability of financial sector July 2003 Tougher rules good but not enough, says SIO SIO welcomes new continuous disclosure guidelines June 2003 2003 Social Investment Conference coverage: Social & environmental issues have "traction" with institutions: ISS Acuity Investment Management wins GLOBE award for environmental excellence   Ethical Funds Inc. joins international investors in call for transparency in oil and mining Advisor.ca articles: The recent push toward improved corporate governance provides a foot in the door for the social investment community Canada's SRI industry needs to improve its communication strategies...  May 2003 Socially responsible investment in Canada now valued at $51.4 billion IPSCO shareholder proposal receives record level of support Religious investors pleased with support for Imperial Oil accountability proposal April 2003 Imperial Oil faces shareholder resolution on global warming on April 22   TD Bank resolution on social responsibility obtains 27% support March 2003 National study on community investment launched CPP Investment Board to support proposals on ethical disclosure February 2003 National study on community investment launched SIO calls for letter writing campaign urging regulators to open up mutual fund voting Meritas Financial selected as investment advisor on four new retirement SRI funds Real Assets merges with United Investment Counsel January 2003  Two SRI firms launch shareholder action with Petro-Canada Acuity Funds unveils Canadian SRI pooled fund Social Investment Organization calls for mandatory disclosure of mutual fund voting December 2002  Kyoto provides opportunity for investors  Canada’s accounting profession calls for reporting of corporate social and environmental activities   2003 2002 2001 2000 2002 November 2002 SIO to hold public forum on Kyoto and investment on November 20 Social Investment Organization and the Taskforce on the  Churches and Corporate Responsibility publish shareholder advocacy handbook Talisman to withdraw from Sudan Canadian banks targeted by shareholder advocates Social Investment Organization addresses Senate Committee on corporate corruption October 2002 Ethical Funds launches seven new socially responsible funds Phillips, Hager & North introduce four socially responsible funds SIO launches consultation on national SRI Standards The Social Investment Organization calls for mandatory reporting on social and environmental issues. September 2002 SIO calls on the Prime Minister to implement mandatory corporate reporting SIO calls for securities and accounting reforms to provide for mandatory social and environmental reporting News Release on mandatory Social and Environmental reporting Sept. 19, 2002 August 2002 SIO urges New York Stock Exchange to mandate social and environmental disclosure Talisman may retain oil project as critics voice skepticism over Sudan peace deal Ethical Funds adopts flexible sales option July 2002 Imperial Oil targeted by Canadian environmental organizations Peru supports Canadian mining project in spite of local opposition Quebec to hold hearings on socially responsible investment June 2002 Hudson's Bay proposal sets new record for shareholder support Zenon Environmental leads Top 50 list of corporate citizens SIO offers to work with the CPP Investment Board to strengthen social investment policy May 2002 Talisman attempting to divest from Sudan Placer Dome accused of inadequately disclosing environmental liabilities BP resolution on arctic drilling wins 11 per cent support April 2002 Ethical Funds targets BP and other companies for shareholder action  Shareholders aim at Sears Canada and Hudson's Bay on sweatshop issues. Church shareholders to pressure Talisman Energy on Sudan March 2002 Enbridge to adopt human rights standards in Colombia following shareholder pressure Meritas Funds to publish voting results on-line February 2002 SIO welcomes proposals for pension fund disclosure Study challenges underperformance myth VanCity's Real Assets launches Social Leaders Fund Canadian social investment representatives address UN meeting  OMERS announces new social investment policy January 2002 Canadian churches launch campaign on CPP and Talisman Canadian shareholders support social responsibility Two Canadian energy companies score highly in responsibility ratings 2003 2002 2001 2000 2001 December 2001 New shareholder rule becomes law Acuity Funds adds science and tech fund to Clean Environment group. Desjardins launches new regional development investment fund. Ballard and Ford sign $69.1 million deal November 2001 SIO Launches Membership Campaign Ottawa asked to grant RRSP fairness for community investments Pension SRI bill introduced in House of Commons VanCity Introduces Conservation Lending Program Solidarity Fund assets increase 19 per cent October 2001 Pressure grows on Talisman to divest from Sudan SIO supports campaign to make community loan funds RRSP eligible. August 2001 Legislation ending discrimination against socially responsible shareholder proposals passes in Parliament Three SIO members receive Ethics in Action awards Placer Dome under pressure to end river dumping of mine waste in Papua New Guinea June 2001 Socially responsible investing poised for growth.  SIO moves forward on strategic directions Retail companies hear proposals on sweatshop issues. Talisman signals it may leave Sudan May 2001 Socially responsible shareholders press retailers on sweatshop issue. Shareholders asked to support church action calling on Talisman Energy to withdraw from Sudan. Suncor sells interest in controversial Australian oil shale plant. April 2001 Meritas Financial introduces five new socially responsible mutual funds. Federal government agrees to end discrimination against socially responsible shareholder proposals. Canadian social investment books hit the market Ethical Funds first Canadian mutual fund group to publicly report voting record New social investment funds unveiled January 2001 Greenpeace targets mutual funds with holdings in old growth forest GWL launches new socially responsible segregated fund   2003 2002 2001 2000 2000 December 2000 Social investment is $50 billion in Canada VanCity releases social report Ethical Funds Inc. files shareholder resolutions with Wal-Mart and Citigroup November 2000 Acuity Social Values Funds launched.  Shareholder bill dies on the order paper.   Conference reviews social investment in Europe October 2000 Investors in Ethical Funds Inc. support corporate engagement. Nortel out of Burma September 2000 Suncor fuels debate over oil sands and climate change.   Feds pressed to make community investment RRSP-eligible SIO welcomes newest founding member. August 2000 Teachers favour divestment from Talisman. July 2000 Canadian companies commit to saving ancient forests Ethical Funds Inc. releases proxy voting guidelines.   Senate Committee to review shareholder rights legislation over summer.   June 2000 Shareholders withdraw proposal against Placer Dome. Talisman vote highest ever. SIO asks members to write to the Senate. VanCity introduces International Community Investment Deposits. Mine becomes aquaculture project.