The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec is planning to completely divest from oil production — roughly one per cent of its total portfolio or about $3.9 billion based on the size of its net assets as of June 30 — by the end of 2022, as part of its new climate change strategy. […]
While a re-elected Liberal government may introduce some measures to protect private pension plan members, it’s unlikely to pursue super-priority similar to what was proposed by the Conservative Party and the New Democratic Party on the federal election trail, according to a pension lawyer. “I think that there may be some measures to address the […]
The Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan is setting new targets to accompany its plan to tackle climate change and curb greenhouse gas emissions tied to its multi-billion dollar portfolio. The pension fund said it aims to slash the carbon emissions intensity of its investments by 45 per cent by 2025 and by two-thirds by 2030, compared to its […]
Bâtirente is introducing a new strategy that seeks to optimize its fixed income, global equity and environmentally responsible investment allocations. The Montreal-based pension’s new fund optimization plan specifically addresses the organization’s main priorities. By implementing the new plan, it will seek to improve its funds’ diversity in fixed income and global equities and focus on […]
Michel Charron has had a front-row seat for the revolution in the Canadian investment industry’s approach to environmental, social and governance issues. Following the foundation of the United Nation’s principles for responsible investment in 2008, his firm, PBI Actuarial Consultants Inc., immediately signed up. But the concept required explanation for some pension plan sponsors, he […]
The Investment Management Corp. of Ontario is acquiring a British power provider that specializes in the use of low-carbon technologies. Green Frog Power Ltd., which builds and operates power stations throughout the U.K., is working toward a long-term goal of bringing hydrogen gas into the country’s existing gas distribution network. The acquisition comes as GFP […]
Institutional investors that are signed onto the United Nations’ principles for responsible investment had a higher five-year average net return compared to non-signatories, according to a report by CEM Benchmarking Inc. The benchmarking consultancy, which studied the net returns of 42 signatories participating in its database for five consecutive years ending in 2018, found that […]
Three of Canada’s largest pension funds are investing in a new fund focused on the global transition to a net-zero economy. The Brookfield Global Transition Fund, founded by Brookfield Asset Management Inc., closed its funding after raising US$7 billion ($8.8 billion) with the help of the Investment Management Corp. of Ontario, the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan […]
In case you missed it, a recent legal opinion by pension lawyer Randy Bauslaugh suggested plan sponsors might be personally liable for failing to consider risks posed by climate change in the institutional investment decision-making process. Bauslaugh’s paper connected the dots between the current evidence on the materiality and urgency of the financial implications of climate change and the recent reflection of this […]
By encouraging employees to be their authentic selves at work, pension plans can make better investment decisions, says Adrian Mitchell, vice-president of public equities at the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan. “I think having some out LGBTQ people around demonstrates to everyone else it’s safe to be who you are. We’re going to make better […]