Category: News

Data provided by Fundata shows that despite history-making market volatility in the first quarter of 2020, 83% of Canadian RI funds outperformed their average asset class return in the three-month period, and a significant majority (80%) outperformed over the one-year period ending March 31, 2020.

RI funds also performed well over longer- term periods relative to their average asset class return, highlighting the long-term value of incorporating environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into investment decisions. More than seven-in-ten RI funds outperformed their average asset class return over the three-year, five-year and ten- year periods ending March 31, 2020.

Download Q1 2020 Highlights.

RIA Members can download the full report by logging in to their account and accessing Member Resources.

Data provided by Fundata.

 

 

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DISCLAIMER
The information contained in this report is for educational and general information purposes only. The information contained herein does not constitute advice nor does it constitute an offering of securities or any advertisement for the offering of securities. You should not act or rely on the information without seeking professional advice. While we believe the information to be reliable [and endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct], we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, timeliness, suitability or availability with respect to the report or the information, products, services or related graphics contained in the report for any purpose. The RIA does not endorse, recommend or guarantee any investment products listed in the report.

 

April 8, 2020 

Dear RIA Members and Colleagues:

Our lives have changed dramatically in the last few weeks. A month ago, most of us had never heard of ‘physical distancing’ or ‘flattening the curve’ – both of which are now part of our daily vocabulary. Our offices and our children’s schools are now closed, and there are certainly no business conferences taking place.

Against that backdrop, we have made the decision to cancel the annual RIA Conference in its regular format. Attendees will receive refunds in the next 10 business days.

But we are resilient, and I do not believe this health crisis should prevent us from having important dialogues about responsible investment and sustainable finance, particularly considering the vital need for a sustainable economic recovery. The Responsible Investment Association is a community of members. And right now, community is more important than ever.

Therefore, we are building a new conference model to bring our community together – the RIA Virtual Conference. This will be a condensed, digital version of the same great content that we have been delivering for years. We are converting 10 key sessions from the regular conference into live webcasts, which will run twice per day from June 8th to 12th. We will also offer a primer on June 5th for advisors who are new to the field.

But these are no ordinary webcasts. Our team has been working around the clock to develop a new conference model, using leading-edge technology to deliver a truly virtual event experience. Attendees can connect with each other via text and video chats, engage with speakers via online polls and audience Q&A, and hear from thought leaders on key issues and trends in the field of ESG and sustainable finance.

The new website and registration will be online next week. We will also send you an invitation via email next week. I hope you will join us.

Although we are saddened that we cannot proceed with the regular conference, we are excited to deliver this new virtual event experience for our members and colleagues, and I look forward to welcoming the RIA community to the opening session on June 8th at 11:00am EDT / 8:00am PDT.

In the meantime, I wish you wellness and, as Erika Karp recently put it, “a renewed sense of hope and determination” that we will get through this. We are all in this together.

Sincerely,

Dustyn Lanz
Chief Executive Officer
Responsible Investment Association

We’re pleased to announce the judges of the 2020 RIA Leadership Awards! The Awards will recognize the outstanding contributions of our members to responsible investment in Canada.

The panel of judges is composed of experts from across the industry including financial advisors, consultants, asset managers, asset owners, journalists, and academics.

Meet the Judges

 
Amr Addas – Professor, John Molson School of Business and the Goodman Institute, Concordia University

Amr Addas is an Adjunct Professor and Director of the Van Berkom Investment Management Program and Van Berkom Small Cap Case Competition at the John Molson School of Business, Concordia University. He leads Concordia’s Sustainable Investing Practicum in collaboration with Manulife. Learn More

Alexa Blain – Managing Partner, Deetken Impact

Alexa is co-Founder and Managing Partner of Deetken Impact, which manages and distributes impact investment products to Canadian and global investors. Prior to joining Deetken, Alexa was an executive with African Alliance, a pan-African financial services group and an associate with the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and the Macquarie Group in Toronto. Learn More

Adelaide Chiu – Portfolio Manager, OMERS

Adelaide Chiu is a global equities portfolio manager with the Capital Markets team at OMERS, one of Canada’s largest defined pension plans. In addition to her portfolio management role, Adelaide is a key contributor to the pension’s sustainable investing strategy for Capital Markets. Learn More

Denis Dion – ESG Product Manager, Desjardins Investments

Denis Dion is a responsible investment product manager at Desjardins and therefore leads the development of the SocieTerra funds and portfolios. In addition to monitoring the latest trends in responsible investment, he ensures the performance of the products offered. Learn More

Pablo Fuchs – Globe Advisor Editor, The Globe and Mail

Pablo Fuchs is editor of Globe Advisor at The Globe and Mail, a position he has held since January 2019. He oversees the editorial direction and manages the production of daily content for the Globe’s direct-to-advisor offering. Learn More

Tessa Hebb – Distinguished Research Fellow and Adjunct Professor, Sprott School of Business and School of Public Policy and Administration, Carleton University

Dr. Hebb led a ten-year research consortium on Responsible Investing funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Government of Canada. She is the past chair of the steering committee of the UN- backed Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) Academic Network (2009-2014). Learn More

Sucheta Rajagopal – Portfolio Manager, Mackie Research Capital Corp.

Sucheta Rajagopal has been involved in Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) for over 20 years, advising clients on how to integrate environmental, social and corporate governance issues into their investment portfolios. Learn More

Mark Sevestre – President, National Aboriginal Trust Officers Association

In 2006, Mark became one of three founding members of the National Aboriginal Trust Officers Association. Serving in several roles, including Board Member, Committee Chairman and President, Mark is currently serving as Founder and Senior Advisor to NATOA. Learn More

Melissa Shin – Editorial Director, Advisor’s Edge and Investment Executive

Melissa Shin is the Editorial Director at Advisor’s Edge and Investment Executive with Newcom Media Inc. As an award-winning journalist and the editorial director of four national financial services publications, Melissa turns technical subject matter into accessible content for sophisticated audiences. Learn More

Mritunjay Sinha – Director of Finance & Investment, The Catherine Donnelly Foundation

A social entrepreneur-operator and an investor, MJ helped build a multi-million-dollar micro-loan portfolio in rural India and helped create a co-operative that served over 200 entrepreneurs. For the last few years MJ has been working in impact investing. He started with Grand Challenges Canada. Learn More

Rosalie Vendette – Sustainable Finance Expert, Independent Consultant

Rosalie Vendette is a sustainable finance expert with more than 16 years of experience. She has developed a breath of knowledge from the various positions she held over the years at Desjardins Group and Groupe investissement responsable (GIR) and initiatives she managed for the responsible investment community. Learn More

Stephen Whipp – Director of Responsible Asset Management, Leede Jones Gable Inc.

Stephen Whipp is an activist and a passionate guy. He believes that individuals working together really can change the world for the better. With a background in journalism and non-profit management that includes aboriginal governance, and more than 20 years as a successful investment advisor, Steve brings a potent combination of experience, knowledge and connections to the table. Learn More

March 10, 2020 

Dear RIA Members, Sponsors, and Colleagues:

We are watching the COVID-19 aka “coronavirus” situation very closely, particularly with respect to our events including the annual RIA Conference which is scheduled for June 8th and 9th in Toronto.

A lot can happen in 90 days, so we are taking steps to prepare for a number of scenarios. For example, the virus could stabilize in Canada, or it could escalate and decline between now and June, leaving Toronto in a situation that is similar to where it stands today – a place of low risk according to public health authorities. If public health officials deem the risk to be low at the time of our conference, we will plan to continue with the event while taking steps to promote public health such as providing packaged foods, boxed water, and hand sanitizer stations throughout the venue.

But there is also a chance that the virus could escalate to a high-risk situation in early June, leading to a travel advisory or a government-issued warning against large meetings in Toronto. If policy signals, such as these, indicate that it would be unsafe or inadvisable to hold the RIA Conference as planned, then we would cancel the event and issue refunds to attendees. We would also give sponsors the option to receive a refund or carry-over their sponsorships to 2021.

The health and safety of our staff and event attendees is a top priority. We are assessing all of our scheduled events on a case-by-case basis using the most current and reliable and information. For now, the risk remains low so we will continue to plan our conference. We will provide updates as the situation evolves.

Sincerely,

Dustyn Lanz
Chief Executive Officer,
Responsible Investment Association

Data provided by Fundata shows that close to 60% of Canadian RI funds reviewed out-performed their average asset class return within the fourth quarter of 2019, while nearly two-thirds of RI funds outperformed over the one-year period ending December 31, 2019.

A majority of RI funds performed well over longer time periods, highlighting the longterm value of incorporating environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into investment decisions. Nearly 70% of RI funds outperformed their average asset class return over three years and 73% outperformed over five years. Two-thirds of RI funds outperformed their average asset class return over the 10-year period ending December 31, 2019.

Download Q4 2019 Highlights.

RIA Members can download the full report by logging in to their account.

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DISCLAIMER
The information contained in this report is for educational and general information purposes only. The information contained herein does not constitute advice nor does it constitute an offering of securities or any advertisement for the offering of securities. You should not act or rely on the information without seeking professional advice. While we believe the information to be reliable [and endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct], we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, timeliness, suitability or availability with respect to the report or the information, products, services or related graphics contained in the report for any purpose. The RIA does not endorse, recommend or guarantee any investment products listed in the report.

 

January 15th, 2020 – Toronto – The Responsible Investment Association (RIA) is pleased to announce that TD Bank Group has become a Sustaining Member of the RIA.

“We are delighted to welcome TD as a Sustaining Member of the Responsible Investment Association,” said Dustyn Lanz, Chief Executive Officer of the RIA. “By taking this step, TD is strengthening its commitment to responsible investing, and they are supporting the RIA’s capacity to execute our strategic priorities. We look forward to working with TD more closely on our shared journey towards full adoption of RI in Canada’s retail and institutional markets.”

The RIA is Canada’s industry association dedicated to advancing responsible investment, which refers to the incorporation of ESG factors into the selection and management of investments. RIA membership has grown rapidly in recent years as investors increasingly seek investments that align with their values and manage exposure to ESG risks and opportunities. According to research published by the RIA, $2.1 trillion are invested responsibly in Canada, equal to more than 50% of professionally managed AUM in Canada.

“As a financial institution, we have a role to play in creating a more sustainable tomorrow – and one of the greatest contributions we can make is through our business,” said Nicole Vadori, Head of Environment, TD. “Sustainable finance can accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy while propelling new opportunities forward. It’s an opportunity to help both people and economies thrive. We’re proud to continue working with the RIA as a Sustaining Member and are looking forward to collaborating with our peers as the landscape for responsible investing continues to grow.”

TD serves more than 25 million customers in a number of locations in financial centres around the globe. The bank considers environmental and social factors across its business strategy and is a signatory to the United Nation’s Principles for Responsible Investment and Principles for Sustainable Insurance, and the Equator Principles. It is also participating in the United Nations-led pilots, which aim to develop harmonized approaches across the industry to help assess financial impacts from climate-related risks, based on the recommendations from the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures.

As part of its global corporate citizenship platform, The Ready Commitment, TD is targeting CDN $100 billion by 2030 to support a transition to a low-carbon economy through its lending, financing, asset management and other programs. To reach this, TD is investing in companies, ventures and projects that are driving innovation in, and contributing to, carbon emissions reduction and energy-efficiencies, the growth of renewable energy and clean technology, and increasing resiliency in urban green spaces.  

About Responsible Investment Association
The Responsible Investment Association (RIA) is Canada’s membership association for Responsible Investment (RI). Members include mutual fund companies, financial institutions, asset management firms, advisors, consultants, investment research firms, asset owners, individual investors and others interested in RI. Our members believe that the integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into the selection and management of investments can provide superior risk adjusted returns and positive societal impact. To learn more about the RIA, please visit www.riacanada.ca.

Media Enquiries
Damiano Passarelli, Communications Coordinator, RIA, (416) 461-6042 x8

December 12, 2019 – Today, the Global Sustainable Investment Alliance (GSIA) released its Sustainable Investor Poll on TCFD Implementation – a survey of 272 investment professionals who practice sustainable investing. The survey included respondents based in Australasia, Canada, Europe, Japan, United Kingdom and the United States.

The vast majority of respondents, 87%, said they do not believe that markets are consistently and correctly pricing climate risks into company and sector valuations. Only 2% said they believe these risks are priced in, while 11% said they are unsure.

A majority of 59% of respondents said they are unsatisfied with publicly-traded companies’ climate disclosures. This negative sentiment is particularly strong in the US, and within service providers and asset managers. Not a single respondent reported being “very satisfied” with corporate disclosures on climate change.

Globally, 92% of respondents agreed that the TCFD recommendations are helpful and 92% agreed that they will help investors to limit the global average temperature rise to less than 2°C.

In total, 34% of survey respondents have already incorporated TCFD disclosures into their investment analysis, led by respondents in the UK and Australasia. A further 26% of respondents plan to incorporate the TCFD recommendations into their analysis in the near-term.

The percentage of survey respondents who are already reporting in line with the TCFD recommendations is low (16%), and lags behind the proportion who are incorporating TCFD into their investment analysis. Stated intentions to report in line with the TCFD recommendations indicate positive momentum, with 19% of respondents saying they plan to do TCFD reporting in 2020 and 28% exploring this option.

View the full report here: Sustainable Investor Poll on TCFD Implementation

About The Global Sustainable Investment Alliance
The Global Sustainable Investment Alliance (GSIA) is a collaboration of membership-based sustainable investment organizations around the world. GSIA’s mission is to deepen the impact and visibility of sustainable investment organizations at the global level. Its vision is a world where sustainable investment is integrated into financial systems and the investment chain and where all regions of the world have coverage by vigorous membership-based institutions that represent and advance the sustainable investment community. For more information, visit gsi-alliance.org.

Media Enquiries 

Damiano Passarelli,
Communications Coordinator
+1 416-461-6042

Data provided by Fundata shows that a majority of Canadian RI funds outperformed their average asset class return within the third quarter of 2019, and more than three-quarters of RI funds outperformed over the one-year period ending September 30, 2019.

A majority of RI funds performed well over longer time periods, highlighting the long-term value of incorporating environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into investment decisions. Nearly 60% of RI funds outperformed their average asset class return over three years and 70% outperformed over five years.

Download Q3 2019 Highlights.

RIA Members can download the full report by logging in to their account.

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DISCLAIMER
The information contained in this report is for educational and general information purposes only. The information contained herein does not constitute advice nor does it constitute an offering of securities or any advertisement for the offering of securities. You should not act or rely on the information without seeking professional advice. While we believe the information to be reliable [and endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct], we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, timeliness, suitability or availability with respect to the report or the information, products, services or related graphics contained in the report for any purpose. The RIA does not endorse, recommend or guarantee any investment products listed in the report.

 

TORONTO – October 30, 2019 – The vast majority of Canadian investors are concerned about single-use plastic in their portfolios, says a new survey from the Responsible Investment Association (RIA). 

The 2019 RIA Investor Opinion Survey, which is based on an Ipsos poll of 1,004 individual investors in Canada, found that 82% of respondents believe it is important for companies in their investment portfolio to reduce plastic waste. 

The survey also found most investors view single-use plastic as financially material: 70% believe companies that reduce plastic waste from their products and packaging will be better long-term investments and 58% believe companies continuing to rely on single-use plastics in their products or packaging will suffer a reputational decline.

Most investors recognize plastic-waste reduction presents opportunities: 75% of respondents agreed that they would like a portion of their investment portfolio to be invested in companies that are providing solutions to reducing plastic waste.

The survey, sponsored by AGF Investments Inc. (AGF) and Desjardins Group, also shows 79% of respondents would like their financial services provider to inform them about responsible investment (RI) options. However, only 23% of respondents have been asked by their provider if they are interested in RI. 

“The market has spoken,” said Dustyn Lanz, CEO of the RIA. “Canadian investors want companies to step up their efforts on plastic waste, and they want their advisors to help them with responsible investing.” Lanz added, “We’ve reached a point where having knowledge of responsible investing is simply table stakes for investment professionals seeking to earn clients’ business.” 

“As a leader in the development of responsible investing initiatives, we are pleased to learn that Canadian investors want to know more about options for investing in companies committed to improving returns for shareholders and society at large,” said Martin Grosskopf, Vice-President and Portfolio Manager, AGF. “As the linkage between specific environmental issues such as plastic waste and business risks becomes better understood, investors are looking for real opportunities to connect their interest in improving environmental outcomes with returns,” added Grosskopf.

Highlights
Interest in RI has grown since last year’s survey, while the desire for RI information holds steady.

• 72% of 2019 respondents expressed interest in RI, up from 60% in 2018. Knowledge continues to lag interest. However, 72% of respondents know little or nothing about RI, an improvement from 81% in 2018.
• 79% of respondents would like their financial services provider to inform them about RI options. However, only 23% of respondents have been asked by their provider if they are interested in RI.
• Overall, 26% of respondents said they currently own responsible investments. Young people are at the forefront of RI ownership, with 36% of respondents aged 18-34 owning RI, compared to 18% among those 55+.
• 82% of respondents believe it is important for companies in their investment portfolio to reduce plastic waste. 75% of respondents would like to invest in solutions to reduce plastic waste.
• 58% believe companies continuing to rely on single-use plastics in their products or packaging will incur a reputational decline.
• 70% believe companies that reduce plastic waste from their products and packaging will be better long-term investments.

View the full report here: https://www.riacanada.ca/research/2019-ria-investor-opinion-survey/

About the Responsible Investment Association
The Responsible Investment Association (RIA) is a nonprofit, membership-based organization dedicated to the advancement of responsible investment in Canada. The RIA’s membership is composed of over 400 institutional investors and investment professionals who practice and support responsible investing. To learn more about the RIA, please visit www.riacanada.ca.

Media Contacts

Nick Buccheri
Manager, Communications
Responsible Investment Association
+1 416-461-6042

Amanda Marchment
Director, Corporate Communications
AGF Investments Inc.
416-865-4160

Join us for a glass of wine to celebrate the launch of the 2019 RIA Investor Opinion Survey, Canada’s annual survey of retail investor perspectives on responsible investing.

This year’s survey includes new insights into Canadian investors’ perspectives on plastic in their portfolios. Registration is open for Launch Events in Vancouver, Toronto, Montréal, and Quebec City at the links below. Stay tuned for more!

Toronto | October 29, 2019

Time: 5:00PM to 8:00PM (ET)
Location: Montecito, 299 Adelaide Street W.
Speakers: Dustyn Lanz (RIA), Martin Grosskopf (AGF)
Register Now

Montréal | October 30, 2019

Time: 5:00PM to 7:00PM (ET)
Location: Espace CDPQ, 3 Place Ville Marie
Speakers: Mary Robinson (RIA), More TBD
Register Now

Vancouver | November 5, 2019

Time: 4:00PM to 6:00PM (PT)
Location: Shangri-La Vancouver, 1128 W Georgia St.
Speakers: Dustyn Lanz (RIA), Ian Robertson (RIA Chair), Hyewon Kong (AGF)
Register Now

Quebec City | November 5, 2019

Time: 5:00PM to 7:00PM (ET)
Location: Hôtel Plaza Québec, 3031, boul. Laurier
Speakers: Mary Robinson (RIA), More TBD
Register Now