“The boreal forest is a Canadian icon,” says Don Rolfe, President and CEO, The Ethical Funds Company.  “Canadians know it from television, film and literature. We have experienced its vastness and beauty from canoes, on skis and from airplanes. The boreal has shaped our history, our economy and our culture – It is a part of who we are. We have a responsibility to future generations of Canadians to manage our activities in the forest at the heart of our country.”

In addition to endorsing the CBI, The Ethical Funds Company has committed to engaging corporate Canada to the CBI’s vision using their influence as shareholders. The Ethical Funds Company has initiated talks with the country’s top five banks – RBC Financial Group, CIBC, TD Bank Financial Group, Scotiabank Group and BMO Financial Group – asking them to develop sustainable lending policies based on biodiversity protection and to endorse the CBI. As a result of this contact, the banks and the CBI are planning to meet to discuss ways to work together.

“The support of our major banks is vital if we are going to save this large area of land that covers over 50% of our country,” says Bob Walker, Vice President, Sustainability, at The Ethical Funds Company.

The Ethical Funds Company has a history of engaging Canadian companies on environmental, social, and governance issues.  “The Ethical Funds Company level of success at engaging major financial groups is important to us,” says Kelly Acton, Communications Manager at CBI. “Our engagement with the private sector so far has been restricted to resource companies. The Ethical Funds Company’s endorsement provides us with a window on the crucially important financial services sector and some tangible support already onboard.”

The Ethical Funds Company is also talking to other Canadian companies about adopting the CBI’s vision for the boreal. Discussions have already begun with a number of major resource companies.

The Ethical Funds Company’s Shareholder Action Program is Canada’s largest and it is currently engaging more than 40 companies in active dialogue to encourage improved sustainability performance and long-term value creation.

The Canadian Boreal Initiative, launched in January 2003, seeks to protect the Boreal forestland from major land developments. The Boreal represents 25% of the world’s remaining frontier forestland, is Canada’s largest ecosystem and one of the world’s largest storehouses of carbon.

For more information, visit http://www.ethicalfunds.com/do_the_right_thing/about_ef/newsroom/2005_articles/CBI%20Final.pdf.

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