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RIA News
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Above: A packed house at the RIA's fall 2015 social.
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Photos from RIA Fall 2015 Social Event
Over 80 responsible investment (RI) professionals attended the RIA's fall 2015 social event,
ESG AfterWork, which took place October 1st Montecito Restaurant in Toronto. Special thanks to Bloomberg for helping to make this event possible and to Gregory Elders for sharing insights on water scarcity risks. View the photos
here.
RIA Welcomes SHARE as Associate Member
The RIA is pleased to welcome the Shareholder Association for Research & Education (
SHARE) as an RIA Associate Member. By increasing its RIA membership to the Associate level, SHARE has further demonstrated its commitment to supporting and growing RI in Canada.
Read more
here
.
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Volkswagen's emissions rigging probe (David Ramos/Bloomberg)
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RIA Blog: Volkswagen: Why this Matters
AGF portfolio managers Martin Grosskopf and Hyewon Kong have authored a new blog on the RIA website titled Volkswagen: Why this Matters. The article discusses the significance of the Volkswagen scandal and outlines five key issues for investors to consider.
Read the article
here
.
RIA Staff & Member Receive 2016 Clean50 Awards
Each year, Clean50 recognizes Canada's outstanding contributors to sustainable development and clean capitalism. Dustyn Lanz, RIA Director of Member Relations and Communications has received a 2016
Clean50 Emerging Leader
award, which recognizes leaders under 35. Pauline D'Amboise, VP, Governance, Social Responsibility and Secretariat General with RIA Associate Member Desjardins Group, was recognized with a 2016
Clean50
award.
Submit Ideas for the 2016 RIA Conference
The next RIA Conference will take place June 6th and 7th, 2016 at the Hyatt Regency Toronto. We welcome your suggestions for speakers and session topics.
More.
RIA Members Invited to Submit RIA Blogs
RIA Members are invited to submit educational articles to be considered for publication on the RIA blog, which has been gaining an increasing amount of attention from RI professionals and investment media. RIA Blogs are sent to over 2500 RI professionals. If you wish to submit a blog article, please contact
Dustyn Lanz, RIA Director, Member Relations and Communications.
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Upcoming Events
Oct 7. Toronto, ON
Oct 7. Webinar
Oct 8. Toronto, ON
Oct 8. Vancouver, BC
Oct 14. Vancouver, BC
Oct 20. Montreal, QC
Oct 21. Toronto, ON
Nov 4. Toronto, ON
Nov 5. Toronto, ON
Nov 6. Toronto, ON
Nov 12-13. Toronto, ON
Feb 25-26, Vancouver, BC
June 6-7, Toronto, ON
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RI Job Postings
Sustainalytics, Toronto
Sustainalytics, Toronto
bcIMC, Victoria
SHARE, Vancouver/Toronto
SHARE, Vancouver/Toronto
MaRS Centre for Impact Investing, Toronto
MaRS Centre for Impact Investing, Toronto
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RI Industry News
AGF Fund Discloses Environmental Footprint
The AGF Global Sustainable Growth Equity Fund is the first mutual fund in Canada to publicly disclose environmental footprint. The Fund's disclosure covers a range of factors including GHG emissions, water, waste, pollutants and natural resource usage. More.
MSCI to Report Carbon Footprint of Global Equity Indices
MSCI will publicly report the carbon footprints of its global equity indices beginning with its flagship MSCI ACWI, MSCI world and MSCI emerging markets index families.
More.
NEI Investments Encouraged as Banks Rein in Executive Compensation
NEI Investments has been encouraged by steps that some of Canada's biggest banks have taken to rein in executive pay. Yet there is more work to be done. More.
RBC GAM Becomes Signatory to the UN-Supported PRI
"While ESG integration is not new to our investment process, adopting the UN PRI further demonstrates our ongoing commitment to responsible investing," said Dan Chornous, chief investment officer of RBC GAM. More.
Investors Support Carbon Pricing in Alberta
A coalition of 120 investors, representing over $4 trillion AUM, have written to the premier of Alberta to voice support for the planned increase of its carbon price. More.
PRI in Person 2015 Highlights
Highlights from the PRI's global responsible investment conference are available here.
Coal Divestment Bill Passes California State Legislature
A bill requiring California's state pension funds Calpers and CalSTRS to sell their investments in coal companies has been passed. More.
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ESG News
Canadian Firms Weak on Gender Diversity Policies
Just 14% of companies on the TSX have adopted a formal policy for improving the proportion of women on their boards in line with recommendations introduced this year by securities regulators, while the vast majority have rejected gender diversity policies.
More.
Volkswagen was Warned About Risk of Emissions Fines
Volkswagen was among companies warned in February they could risk fines for failing to meet stringent emissions targets. More.
VIDEO: Understanding the Issues: Excessive Executive Compensation
NEI's Michelle De Cordova breaks down the issue of excessive executive compensation in a short, client-friendly Youtube video. Watch.
Mark Carney Warns Climate Change Could Lead to Financial Crises
Bank of England governor Mark Carney warns that climate change could lead to financial crises and falling living standards. More. Watch Carney's speech here.
Consumers File Suit Against Nestle, Hershey's and Mars for Child Slave Labor
Lawsuit alleges that candy companies knowingly use forced child labor in the production of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Kit Kat, Twix, M&Ms and other candy bars. More.
General Mills Aims to Reduce GHG emissions by 28% in 10 years
General Mills has set an ambitious goal of reducing its GHG emissions 28% by 2025 - not just within its own operations but from farm to fork to landfill. More.
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Research & Analysis
Climate Change and the Fiduciary Duties of Pension Fund Trustees in Canada
New Canadian legal research finds that climate change denial is not an option for trustees. Foreword by Peter Chapman of SHARE. Full study here. Media release here.
PRI: Fiduciary Duty in the 21st Century
New report finds that fiduciary duty is not an obstacle to asset owner action on ESG factors. It looks at fiduciary duty across eight markets including Canada through a series of events, interviews, case studies and a legal review. More.
Investors, Climate Risk and Forceful Stewardship: An Agenda for Action
A blueprint for asset owners to act on portfolio climate risk and to protect themselves against legal liability for negligence. Summary here. Full report here.
Bloomberg and Natural Capital Declaration: Water Risk Valuation Tool
This white paper discusses how water scarcity is emerging as a potentially material risk, and identifies ways to understand and assess water scarcity risks. More.
Mining the Disclosures: An Investor Guide to Conflict Minerals Reporting
Report from Responsible Sourcing Network analyzes corporate due diligence procedures that address conflict mineral risks & ranks human rights performance of 155 firms. More.
Sustainalytics: Steel: Forging Sustainability and Competitiveness
The steel industry is struggling with overcapacity and volatility in the price of raw materials. In this sector research report, Sustainalytics assesses the key ESG investment risks and opportunities for 84 public and private companies. More.
New research indicates sin stocks do not outperform
New research refutes the notion that "sin stocks" such as alcohol and tobacco companies outperform other publicly listed companies. Summary here. Full study here.
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Policy & Legal News
Results from Women in Executive Roles Disclosure Requirements
Canadian regulators have released the results of compliance with new disclosure requirements on women on boards and in executive officer positions.
More
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Viewpoints
Sustainalytics: Pensions and ESG Disclosure - It's Time to Act
Max Zehrt, Sustainalytics' Director, Institutional Relations, Canada shares insights on the new ESG disclosure requirements for pension plan administrators in Ontario. More.
SHARE: Safety strategy is a Business Strategy
SHARE's Kevin Thomas writes that a holistic view of business strategy would incorporate the value created by the responsible use of all types of capital, including financial, natural and human capital. That idea is gaining momentum. More.
Purpose Capital: How to Invest with Impact
Purpose Capital Co-Founder Karim Harji explains how impact investing is an approach that brings intentionality to how you align profit and purpose. More.
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Submissions
You are invited to submit news to be considered for inclusion in RIA newsletters
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