BMO announces it's BMO AM Responsible Global Equity ESG Fund

The fund aims to provide long-term capital growth by investing in an ethically screened and diversified portfolio of companies. It seeks to invest in companies making a positive contribution to society and the environment, while avoiding companies with damaging or unsustainable business practices.  More

RBC GAM launches it's RBC Vision Fossil Fuel Free Global Equity Fund

The fund avoids companies directly involved in extracting, processing or transporting coal, oil or natural gas. The fund also uses an exclusion list based on the Carbon Underground 200.   More

The new actively managed multi-manager fund is designed to reduce a client's total exposure to carbon footprint and fossil fuel reserves and invest more in climate resilient and renewable energy opportunities.  More

The shocking profession with the biggest gender wage gap (it's not tech)

Female personal financial advisers make little more than half (56.4%) of men in the same job, compared to 83% overall, according to a recent analysis by the Institute for Women's Policy Research, a Wash. D.C.-based research org.  More

Companies team with IBM on blockchain for tracking supply chain, safety

Nestle SA, Unilever Plc, Tyson Foods Inc. and other large food and retail companies have joined IBM's project to explore how blockchain technology can help track food supply chains and improve safety.  More

Inequality Persists Despite U.S. Progress on Incomes and Poverty

Steady U.S. economic growth helped household incomes climb to a record and reduced poverty last year.  Yet inequality remained evident across income levels, race and gender, indicating there's work to be done.  More

What's a woman on the board worth to stock investors? About 300 bps.

Having women on a company's board of directors leads to better stock market returns and that's information institutional investors can use when deploying their portfolio strategies, a new report prepared by CIBC World suggests.   More

New survey explores impact investing and high net worth individuals

MaRS Centre for Impact Investing is conducting a research initiative on the interest, activities and barriers to impact investing by high net worth individuals and family offices across Canada. More

Vigeo Eiris: Responsibility and ethical culture in banking and finance

Vigeo Eiris research shows that a minority of the global banks has taken concrete steps to support, promote and communicate a responsible business culture.  More

Policy & Legal News

Commonwealth Bank shareholders sue over 'inadequate' disclosure of climate change risks

In world-first case, shareholders' move comes after the Australian financial regulator warned climate change poses material risk to entire financial system.  More

FSCO report on Ontario Plan SIPPs includes ESG update

The FSCO report stated that 36% of filers incorporate ESG factors  in to the SIPPs.  In addition it also highlighted that DB plans were more likely than DC plans to incorporate these factors (48.5% vs. 22.1%).   More

Consultations on Federal Financial Sector Framework

Department of Finance Canada launched a second consultation seeking views on whether and how to implement potential policy measures, as well as on policy directions for future work.  Comments are due September 29, 2017.  More

Amundi: Opportunities of deep-sea mining and ESG risks

Interest in deep-sea mining is growing as global demand for minerals rise.  The practice faces several hurdles with incomplete regulations and unknown environmental impacts.  More

Michael Torrance: Canada must develop a national plan on responsible business and human rights

Canada is lacking a coherent policy approach to address business and human rights as well as the risks of modern slavery in corporate supply chains. Closing this gap should be a priority for the Canadian government.  More

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