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Canadian social investment books hit the market
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Canadian investors now have two new guides to social investment: The 50 Best Ethical Stocks for Canadians by Deb Abbey and Michael Jantzi and The Ethical Investor by David Skinner. The 50 Best Ethical Stocks for Canadians is part of a series of books analysing various stocks. But unlike other stock recommendation handbooks, this guide looks at social and environmental performance as well as investment worthiness. “In this book, we’ve put together a portfolio of 50 stocks that have been screened according to broad-based social and environmental criteria, in addition to financial criteria,” write the authors. “We chose companies that were best in their sectors and gave preference to those with a focus on alternative technologies and best practices in their industry.” The authors are well-known and long-standing social investment advocates. Abbey is CEO of Real Assets Investment Management Inc., a Vancouver-based company focusing exclusively on socially responsible investment. Jantzi is President of Michael Jantzi Research Associates Inc. (MJRA), which provides social investment research and support to institutional investors and financial professionals. Last year, MJRA launched the Jantzi Social Index, Canada’s first socially responsible stock index. Both are long-time members of the SIO. The Ethical Investor is a general book explaining the various approaches to socially responsible investing. It includes chapters and profiles on socially responsible mutual funds, as well as chapters on labour-sponsored funds, financial institutions and community investment. It also includes a wealth of background information on social investing, as well as basic financial information and advice, including sample investor profiles co-written with SIO President Tim Johnson. “For too long, investment capital has been thought of as simply a scarce resource, an agent of production without conscience,” writes Skinner, a teacher and activist who lives in Burnaby, BC. “(This book) acknowledges that investment capital is an extension of those who wield it, a tool that reflects the values and attitudes of those who own and manage it.” The books are available for a 20% discount from Libra Information Services. Both are also widely available in bookstores and The 50 Best Ethical Stocks is also available through branches of VanCity Credit Union.
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