History

The origins of SRI date back thousands of years. In biblical times, Jewish laws laid down directives on how to invest according to ethical values. In the U.S., Quakers practised SRI as early as the 18th century, based on their beliefs in human equality and non-violence, but SRI has only come into modern favour in the last 20 years.

The social climate of the 1960s raised concerns about civil rights, the environment and militarism. The turning point in the U.S. came during the campaign to eliminate the institutionalised racial discrimination of Apartheid in South Africa.

The modern roots of SRI in Canada can be traced back to the formation of the Taskforce on the Churches and Corporate Responsibility (TCCR). The taskforce was established in 1975 to assist participating churches, church agencies, and religious orders to acquire and share research, and to develop strategies for addressing issues related to the social responsibility of corporations. TCCR's agenda focused attention on the churches' own investment policies and practices, the development of ethical and alternative investment choices, and corporate governance issues affecting corporate accountability and shareholder rights.

Today, hundreds of thousands of Canadians have embraced the concept of investing according to their beliefs, and yet, many believe that the industry is still in its infancy compared to market surveys and the experience in other countries.