Quebec-based pension fund Bâtirente has reduced the carbon footprint of its equities by more than 22 per cent of its benchmark portfolios, according to the fund’s latest analysis. It also found that as of Dec. 31, 2019, the fund’s carbon footprint was down 12 per cent from the previous year, due to improved equity selections […]
Investments that incorporate environmental, social and governance factors are growing rapidly in Canada, according to a new survey by the Responsible Investment Association. It found these investments grew from $2.1 trillion at the end of 2017 to $3.2 trillion as of Dec. 31, 2019, a 48 per cent increase in responsible investment assets under management. In […]
A new advisory board tasked with creating a benchmark for transparency throughout global pension investment systems will include two Canadian members. The board was jointly established by Top1000funds.com and CEM Benchmarking Inc. to foster more transparency in pension investments, with the aim of improving outcomes for plan members. According to a press release, the benchmark […]
A new advisory board tasked with creating a benchmark for transparency throughout global pension investment systems will include two Canadian members. The board was jointly established by Top1000funds.com and CEM Benchmarking Inc. to foster more transparency in pension investments, with the aim of improving outcomes for plan members. According to a press release, the benchmark ratings will examine […]
Demand for defined benefit pension plan sponsors to focus on environmental, social and governance factors through their investments is growing. Both plan sponsors and members have been increasingly vocal about keeping ESG issues top of mind. For example, the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan has worked on balancing this increased appetite for ethical investing with […]
Demand for defined benefit pension plan sponsors to focus on environmental, social and governance factors through their investments is growing. Both plan sponsors and members have been increasingly vocal about keeping ESG issues top of mind. For example, the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan has worked on balancing this increased appetite for ethical investing with an overall […]
The University of Toronto Asset Management Corp. is making significant progress toward its goals on climate change, according to its fourth annual responsible investing report. In terms of its goal to reduce the carbon footprint of its pension and endowment portfolios by at least 40 per cent compared to 2017 levels by the end of 2030, […]
Manulife Investment Management Holdings (Canada) Inc. has been named to the Principles for Responsible Investment’s PRI leaders’ group 2020 in recognition of its ‘cutting edge’ practices in climate reporting, one of 36 signatories honoured this year. In its assessment, the PRI awarded Manulife Investment Management an A+ in the areas of strategy and governance, equity […]
As Canadian institutional investors increasingly integrate environmental, social and governance factors into their portfolios, the majority (97.5 per cent) said they believe these portfolios are likely to perform as well or better than non-ESG integrated portfolios, according to a new survey by RBC Global Asset Management Inc. The majority (70 per cent) of survey respondents said […]
The coronavirus pandemic is highlighting many trends in group retirement and investment programs, pushing the industry to be flexible and quick with some of the newer offerings. As plan sponsors review their group retirement plans in the coming months, they may want to consider some, or all, of these four trends. 1. Financial wellness becoming a must. […]