Responsible investment

The Caisse’s responsible investment approach is based on dialogue between companies.

As one of Canada's leading institutional investors, the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec tries to influence the social, environmental, and governance (SEG) performance of companies. In 2004, the Caisse was the first institution in Canada to adopt a policy on responsible investment.
 

Our actions

The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec promotes responsible investment in various ways:

  • Through direct dialogue with companies;
  • Through the integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria in the investment analysis process;
  • Through the exercise of our voting rights. In 2012, the Caisse exercised its voting rights at 4,807 shareholder meetings in Canada, the United States, and worldwide. Policy on the exercise of voting rights (PDF 88 kB);
  • Exclusion from its portfolios of securities in violation with local or international law, such as those of companies that manufacture cluster bombs and land mines.
Environment: our Green Guide Recycle, reduce, reuse and rethink: our Green Guide encourages employees to reduce the consumption of supplies and energy.

COMMITMENTS

The UN principles

The Caisse supported the UN initiative by becoming a signatory to the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), thereby committing to integrate those six principles into its investment activities.

Carbon Disclosure Project
The Caisse is a member of the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) - a group of investors that encourage companies in their portfolios to measure and disclose their greenhouse gas emissions.

CDP Water Disclosure Project
In January 2011, the Caisse also joined the CDP Water Disclosure Project (launched by the Carbon Disclosure Project), a group of investors that encourage companies in their portfolio to publish data on their use of water.

Endorsement of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI)

Participation in the International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN)

Membership in the Pension Investment Association of Canada (PIAC)

Membership in the Social Investment Organization (SIO)

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