Category: News

TORONTO – February 8, 2018 – Libro Credit Union and the Responsible Investment Association (“RIA”) are pleased to announce that Libro Credit Union has become an Associate Member of the RIA.

“We are very pleased to welcome Libro Credit Union as an Associate Member of the Responsible Investment Association,” said Dustyn Lanz, CEO of the RIA. “Libro’s decision to join the RIA will strengthen our capacity to promote education about responsible investing in the credit union system. We look forward to working with Libro in 2018 and beyond.”

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.

“We look forward to working with the Responsible Investment Association to continue to help Libro Owners achieve prosperity,” said Carol Normandeau, Executive Vice President of Advice and Service Delivery with Libro Credit Union. “We see the importance of investing in partnerships that serve a social purpose, giving Owners the opportunity to make investment decisions that are aligned to their values and have a local and global impact.”

About Libro Credit Union 
Libro is southwestern Ontario’s largest credit union with $4 billion in assets under administration and more than 100,000 Owners across southwestern Ontario. As a co-operative financial institution with more than 70 years of history, Libro supports the well-being of people, businesses and communities by providing high-quality financial coaching and profit sharing. Libro offers a full range of financial products and services for consumers, businesses and farms, including savings and chequing, investing, and borrowing. Great service can be experienced through 31 branches, online, telephone, mobile devices and a network of 4,000 ATMs across Canada.

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 riacanada.ca.

Media Enquiries
Nick Buccheri, Manager, Communications and Digital Media, RIA, +1 416-461-6042

TORONTO – February 6, 2018 – IA Clarington Investments Inc. (“iA Clarington”) and the Responsible Investment Association (“RIA”) are pleased to announce that iA Clarington has become a Sustaining Member of the RIA.

“For years, iA Clarington has been a leader in offering socially responsible solutions to Canadian investors,” says Eric Frape, Senior Vice-President, Product & Investments, iA Clarington. “Becoming a Sustaining Member of the RIA is the logical next step in the evolution of our deep commitment to responsible investing.”

Sustaining Members sit on the RIA Board of Directors, helping to shape the development of the responsible investing industry through thought leadership and a variety of ongoing support activities.

“We are thrilled that iA Clarington is expanding its role at the RIA and increasing its support for responsible investing in Canada,” says Dustyn Lanz, Chief Executive Officer of the RIA. “In doing so, iA Clarington further demonstrates its leadership in the field. We look forward to continuing to work with them to inform advisors and investors about the value of incorporating environmental, social and governance issues into investment decisions.”

About IA Clarington Investments Inc. 
A subsidiary of Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc. – Canada’s fourth-largest life and health insurance company – iA Clarington offers a wide range of investment products, including actively managed mutual funds, managed portfolio solutions and socially responsible investments. As of November 30, 2017 iA Clarington has more than $15 billion in assets under management. For more information, please visit iaclarington.com.

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 riacanada.ca

Media Enquiries
Nick Buccheri, Communications Manager, RIA, +1 416-461-6042
Kari Meyer, Communications Manager, iA Clarington Investments, (416) 860-9880 x 2120

The following letter was circulated to RIA Members on Jan. 12, 2018

Dear RIA Members:  

I am deeply honoured to step into the role of Chief Executive Officer of the Responsible Investment Association (RIA). Back in 2013 when Deb Abbey hired me part-time, the RIA team comprised only her, me, and Wendy Mitchell as our part-time bookkeeper. Fast forward to 2018, and we are now recruiting our sixth staff member. Our growing capacity is the result of your continued support. So, in the sincerest possible terms: Thank you for helping to strengthen our capacity to advance responsible investing in Canada.I hope you all had a restful holiday season and that your first 12 days of 2018 have treated you well.

Our team is not the only growth story: In 2017, we welcomed more than 20 new organizational members and 50 new individual members. About 1,150 people attended 14 RI Week events & webinars, and back in June we hosted 380 attendees at our largest conference ever held in Western Canada. And more than 200 investment professionals have now earned one of our financial designations to demonstrate their expertise in responsible investing. It is a privilege to be taking on this role at such an exciting time for RI in Canada.

So, what’s next?  Here’s what you can expect to see from the RIA in 2018:

1. Member Consultation
We want to hear from you. What are we doing well? What can we do better? How can we provide more value for your membership? I ponder these questions on a daily basis. We will circulate a member consultation survey within the next two weeks to hear directly from you on these questions and others.

2. Three-Year Strategic Plan
The RIA will develop a three-year strategic plan in 2018. It will be presented at the Annual General Meeting, which will take place on June 5th in Toronto alongside the RIA Conference. Your feedback from the member consultation will be considered in this process.

3. New RIA Website
We are working on a new website for delivery in spring 2018. This new website will be part of our strengthened digital content strategy. It will deliver engaging, actionable content for investors including a new RI marketplace to promote RIA members’ RI products and services. It will also focus on enhancing members’ experience, for example by improving the members’ login portal and account-management capabilities.

4. Creating Stronger Awareness of RI in Canada
About three-quarters of Canadian investors are interested in responsible investing, but they know little or nothing about it. We need to change that. To do this, we’re going to leverage a combination of traditional and digital media with a focus on visual, accessible, and “bite-sized” content that sparks conversations and gets investors asking their advisors, consultants, asset managers and service providers about RI. This will not happen overnight, but we’re going to push as hard as we can.

5. Enhancing our Services for French-Speaking Canada
We are going to use our strengthened capacity to do a better job of promoting RI and serving the marketplace in both of Canada’s official languages. We now have bilingual capabilities on our team, and I am pleased to announce that the 2019 RIA Conference will take place in Montréal.

In addition to these items, we will be delivering an updated Canadian RI Trends Report in Q4, and we will continue to deliver high quality conferences, events, research, collaborative initiatives and more while continuously looking for ways to serve you better.   It’s going to be an exciting year, and I very much look forward to working with you to advance responsible investing in 2018 and beyond.

With gratitude,

January 15, 2017
By Dustyn Lanz

Investors who are concerned about the long-term sustainability of the planet — and their portfolios — are asking increasingly, “Should I divest from fossil fuel companies?” It’s a fair question to ask, especially as New York City recently announced plans to sell off $5 billion in fossil fuel investments in an effort to fight climate change. Although this move has merit as a political statement, climate-proofing a portfolio and positioning it to help solve the climate crisis requires a more nuanced and proactive responsible investment (RI) strategy.

The idea of fossil fuel divestment gained traction a few years ago following a grassroots campaign led by 350.org, a New York-based non-profit organization, calling for investors to “take money out of the companies that are heating up the planet.” The goal of this campaign is to foster “a safe climate and a better future.” But will selling shares of fossil fuel companies actually safeguard the climate? A quick analysis reveals this is not so simple.

Read the full article.

December 7, 2017 – Mackie Research Capital Corporation (Mackie Research Capital) and the Responsible Investment Association (RIA) are pleased to announce that Mackie Research Capital is now an Associate Member of the RIA.

“We are very pleased to welcome Mackie Research Capital as an Associate Member of the RIA,” said Deb Abbey, CEO of the RIA. “In joining the RIA, Mackie Research Capital has demonstrated its commitment to advancing responsible investment in Canada. We look forward to working with them in our ongoing effort to promote the integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into Canadians’ investment decisions.”

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.

“Mackie Research Capital is pleased to have joined the Responsible Investment Association,” said Geoff Whitlam, President of Mackie Research Capital. “Our Portfolio Manager Sucheta Rajagopal has been instrumental in spearheading the responsible investing initiative at Mackie Research Capital by providing education and information about responsible investing to our team of talented portfolio managers. Our membership with the RIA will provide us additional resources to expand on this important initiative.”

Following the announcement, Portfolio Manager Sucheta Rajagopal said, “My clients want their portfolios to be aligned with their values, and many have moved to me from other advisors because I can help them do that.” She added, “Responsible investing has helped me be a better advisor – clients are more comfortable with their portfolios and looking at ESG issues in addition to purely financial metrics adds depth to my investment analysis. It’s exciting that we are finding ways to harness the power of capital markets to help us build a better world.”

About Mackie Research Capital Corp.
Mackie Research Capital is one of Canada’s largest private, independent full-service investment firms, and proudly traces its roots back to 1921. As a fully integrated national investment dealer, we offer a full complement of capital markets and wealth management services to private clients, institutions and growth companies.

About the Responsible Investment Association
The RIA is Canada’s membership association for responsible investment (RI). RI refers to the integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria into the selection and management of investments. We are a national, membership-based organization composed of financial institutions, mutual fund companies, asset management firms, financial advisors, ESG research firms, and various organizations and individuals who practice and support responsible investing. The RIA and its members strongly believe that RI is a valuable investment tool to enhance returns, reduce risk, and catalyze positive societal change.

Media Enquiries
Nick Buccheri, Manager, Communications and Digital Media, RIA, +1 416-461-6042
Andrea Barendregt, National Marketing Manager, Mackie Research Capital, 416-860-7796

November 27, 2017
By Dustyn Lanz

Investors have clearly shown interest in cannabis. The Canadian marijuana index, which tracks stocks operating in the legal cannabis industry, has risen by 276% since June 2016 to reach a market capitalization of more than $11 billion. Several pot-themed financial products have been launched to meet growing investor demand. This market activity has taken place despite the fact legalization will not take effect until July 2018 at the earliest.

But is this emerging industry suitable for responsible investors who incorporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues into their investment decisions? The answer to that question is complex as it involves a dash of ethical deliberation and a lot of in-depth analysis.

Read the full article.

November 14, 2017 – The Responsible Investment Association (RIA) and State Street Global Advisors (“State Street”) announced today that State Street has become an Associate Member of the RIA.

“We are pleased to welcome State Street Global Advisors as an Associate Member of the RIA,” said Deb Abbey, CEO of the RIA. “We applaud their commitment to responsible investing and their focus on gender diversity. We look forward to working together in our ongoing effort to advance the integration of ESG criteria into Canadians’ investment decisions.”

The RIA is Canada’s industry association dedicated to advancing responsible investment, which refers to the incorporation of environmental, social and governance (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.

“We are excited to become a member of the RIA, and to further the support and advancement of ESG integration in the Canadian marketplace,” said Peter Lindley, president of State Street Global Advisors Canada. “RIA is a recognized leader in the Canadian market and we look forward to working with them and other member organizations to collectively advance responsible investing in Canada.”

About State Street Global Advisors
For nearly four decades, State Street Global Advisors has been committed to helping financial professionals and those who rely on them achieve their investment objectives. We partner with institutions and financial professionals to help them reach their goals through a rigorous, research-driven process spanning both active and index disciplines. We take pride in working closely with our clients to develop precise investment strategies, including our pioneering family of SPDR ETFs. With trillions* in assets under management, our scale and global footprint provide access to markets and asset classes, and allow us to deliver expert insights and investment solutions.

State Street Global Advisors is the investment management arm of State Street Corporation.

* Assets under management were $2.67 trillion as of September 30, 2017. AUM reflects approx. $36 billion (as of September 30, 2017) with respect to which State Street Global Advisors Funds Distributors, LLC (SSGA FD) serves as marketing agent; SSGA FD and State Street Global Advisors are affiliated.

About the Responsible Investment Association 
The Responsible Investment Association (RIA) is Canada’s membership association for responsible investment (RI). RI refers to the integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria into the selection and management of investments. We are a national, membership-based organization composed of financial institutions, mutual fund companies, asset management firms, financial advisors, ESG research firms, and various organizations and individuals who practice and support responsible investing. The RIA and its members strongly believe that RI is a valuable investment tool to enhance returns, reduce risk, and catalyze positive societal change.

For further information:
Nick Buccheri
Manager, Communications
Responsible Investment Association
+1 416-461-6042

Julie Kane
State Street Global Advisors
+1 617-664-3001

Andrew Hopkins
State Street Global Advisors
+1 617-664-2422

Current CEO Deb Abbey to retire at end of 2017

OCTOBER 17^th, 2017 – The Responsible Investment Association (RIA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dustyn Lanz as incoming Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2018. Current CEO Deb Abbey will retire following a successful five-year tenure in the role.

Lanz currently serves as Chief Operating Officer, and has worked with the RIA since 2013. He has played a central role in growing the RIA’s membership base and strengthening its brand and communications initiatives over the last four years.

“We are very pleased to appoint Dustyn as the next CEO of the RIA,” said Jason Milne, Chair of the RIA’s board of directors and Vice President, Corporate Governance & Responsible Investment with RBC Global Asset Management. “Dustyn’s industry expertise, market understanding and passion for responsible investment will build on the success that Deb has helped the RIA to achieve.” He added, “Deb has done an absolutely incredible job of leading this organization since 2013, and we wish her the very best in retirement.”

To ensure a smooth transition, Abbey will work closely with Lanz until her retirement at the end of the year.

Commenting on Dustyn Lanz’s appointment, outgoing CEO Deb Abbey said: “I’ve had the pleasure of working with Dustyn for the last four years, and I am confident that he is the right person for the job,” said Abbey. “He has the industry knowledge, leadership skills and dedication to help take the RIA to the next level. Dustyn’s appointment and this transition mark an exciting milestone for the organization.”

Following his appointment as CEO, Lanz said, “I am honoured to accept the position of CEO of the RIA. I got into this business to contribute to the growth of responsible investing, which I believe is a powerful tool for catalyzing positive societal change. Now, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to do that from a position of leadership.”

“Filling the shoes of my great mentor, Deb Abbey, will be no easy task,” said Lanz. “Deb’s support, and that of my colleagues, has helped me to reach this landmark in my career. I thank them and will work diligently to reward their faith in me.”

He added, “In my mind, we’re just getting started. What I am most excited about are the opportunities that lie ahead for the RIA and responsible investing more broadly.” Referring to the 2017 RIA Investor Opinion Survey, Lanz noted, “Three-quarters of Canadian investors are interested in responsible investing but know little or nothing about it. We’re going to change that.”

Prior to joining the RIA, Lanz worked in academia where he conducted research and made policy recommendations to improve governance of the global financial system. His work has been published by leading academic journals and think tanks in Canada and internationally. In 2016, he received a Clean50 Emerging Leader Award for his contributions to responsible investing in Canada. He holds a bachelor’s degree from York University and a master’s degree from the University of Waterloo.

About the 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. Learn more at www.riacanada.ca.

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

September 20, 2017 – Evolve Funds and the Responsible Investment Association (RIA) have announced that Evolve Funds has become a Supporting Member of the RIA.

“We are delighted to welcome Evolve Funds as a Supporting member of the Responsible Investment Association,” said Deb Abbey, Chief Executive Officer of the RIA. “Their innovative ETF products are an exciting addition to the growing list of products available to responsible investors in Canada. We look forward to working with Evolve to advance responsible investment in Canada.”

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. The RIA is committed to advancing responsible investment, which refers to the incorporation of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into the selection and management of investments.

“We are very pleased to join as a member of RIA and excited to be launching Canada’s first Gender Diversity ETF and Cyber Security ETF,” said Raj Lala, President and CEO of Evolve Funds.  “These ETFs surround topics that intersect in our daily lives.  As Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investing becomes more important to investors, our Gender Diversity ETF is a clear fit and arguably our Cyber Security ETF as well, since it results in good governance.”

About Evolve Funds

Evolve Funds provides Canadian investors with innovative investment solutions and access to some of the world’s largest investment managers.  Established by a team of industry veterans, we create investment products that make a difference.  For more information, please visit www.evolvefunds.com.

About the Responsible Investment Association (RIA)

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.

August 7, 2017
By: Dustyn Lanz

In his latest column for Investment Executive, RIA COO Dustyn Lanz positions climate change as a vital consideration for investors and investment professionals, noting that improved corporate disclosure is needed to help investors understand long-term climate-related risks and opportunities. View the excerpt below:

Turning climate concerns into action

Climate change represents a clear and present danger to long-term shareholder value. Responsible investors who represent trillions of dollars in assets under management (AUM) have recognized this for more than a decade and have worked to incorporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into their investment decisions. For investors and their financial advisors, reliable data and tools are essential for understanding the risks and opportunities associated with climate change.

The potential impacts of climate change on the global economy are immense. A recent report from The Economist Intelligence Unit estimated that US$4.2 trillion in the current value of the world’s AUM is at risk from a four-degree celsius rise in global temperatures by 2100. In a scenario in which the global temperature rises by six degrees, that amount grows to almost US$13.8 trillion, or roughly 10% of the value of the world’s AUM.

There will be winners and losers across all sectors, so investors need reliable information about how each company is managing its exposure to climate risks. Accordingly, it is vital to understand what climate risks are and how they might affect businesses.

Read the full article here.