Respect and Protect:
The State of Corporate Human Rights Due Diligence in Canada

The need to invest responsibly has never been greater. Over the next decade, our focus will continue to be on driving real world outcomes from meaningful climate action to advocating for social equality.

Kristi Mitchem profile photo
Kristi Mitchem
Co-CEO, BMO Global Asset Management

Now is the time to take action

Join us in our journey to engage, activate and advance investing for a sustainable future.

ESG Integration

Five-Star Rating

*****

UN PRI 2021 5-star rating in the “direct-listed equity – active fundamental incorporation module” category1
Training

Stewardship

5,260
Company meetings voted2
global icon

Climate Action

84%

Of shareholder proposals supported2

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Social Equality

729
Social Equality-focused engagements2

Latest Insights

Hiker stands on the edge of a cliff
Hiker stands on the edge of a cliff
Responsible Investment
March 7, 2023

Fighting Climate Change ‘Like a Girl’

Why women are crucial to successful climate action in Canada and beyond
a chain of communicating people cooperation for solving tasks unity and diversity
a chain of communicating people cooperation for solving tasks unity and diversity
Practice Management, Responsible Investment, Social Equity, Stewardship
February 17, 2023
April 2023

As New Laws Approach, Canadian Issuers Can Boost Human Rights Due Diligence Practices

Bill S-211 will require companies and issuers to conduct full assessments of their human rights risk exposure.
Turtle swimming in the ocean
Responsible Investment, Social Equity
February 15, 2023
April 2023

Why Investors should care about Biodiversity

What the Global Biodiversity Framework means for companies, investors, and nature outcomes

As part of our investment process, we recognize the importance of leaving no stone unturned when evaluating investment opportunities for our clients and fundamentally believe the value of sustainability practices. We explore these considerations in some of our investment processes, particularly when developing ESG-oriented investment solutions.

Sadiq Adatia
Sadiq Adatia
Chief Investment Officer

Featured Investments

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors measure the sustainability attributes of a company or industry’s business activities. More and more, we are understanding how these factors can have material implications for financial performance and investor returns. Investors are increasingly seeking out ESG investment options to both mitigate risk and generate opportunities. Following are a few BMO funds that can provide ESG investment opportunities to investors.

BMO Sustainable Opportunities Global Equity Fund

Active equity mutual funds

Selects an active, high conviction portfolio of global equities based on a responsible investing approach.

BMO Sustainable Opportunities Canadian Equity Fund

Active equity mutual fund

Selects an active, high conviction portfolio of Canadian equities based on a responsible investing approach.

ESGG - BMO MSCI Global ESG Leaders Index ETF

Passive equity ETF

Replicates the MSCI World ESG Leaders Index that includes equities with high ESG performance relative to their sector peers.

ESGY - BMO MSCI USA ESG Leaders Index ETF

Passive equity ETF

Replicates the MSCI USA ESG Leaders Index that includes equities with high ESG performance relative to their sector peers.

ZESG - BMO Balanced ESG ETF

Multi-asset passive ETF

Builds a 60/40 portfolio by selecting equity and fixed income ETFs based on a responsible investing approach.

BMO Sustainable Growth Portfolio

Multi-asset active mutual fund

Builds a 80/20 portfolio by selecting equity and fixed income ETFs and mutual funds based on a responsible investing approach.

There is no denying that ESG considerations are mainstream risks that are multi-faceted and pervasive throughout society. Our Responsible Investment strategy aims to mitigate these risks and capitalize on opportunities for investors, paving the way to a sustainable future for all.

Nalini Feuilloley profile photo
Nalini Feuilloley
Head of Responsible Investment

Insights

Brain hologram projected by a man in a suit
Commentary
March 30, 2023

War of the Words – The Battle for AI Language Supremacy

Which tech giant will come out on top?
Men
Sadiq Adatia
Weekly Commentary
March 27, 2023
April 2023

Mr. Powell Keeps His Promises

How should investors interpret the Fed’s latest rate hike and Chairman Powell’s comments? Given central banks’ actions and the SVB and Credit Suisse situations, how likely is a global financial crisis?
Silicon Valley Bank headquarters and branch; Silicon Valley Bank, a subsidiary of SVB Financial Group, is a U.S.-based high-tech commercial bank
Multi-Asset
March 22, 2023

Banking and Bad Apples: The Aftermath of SVB

The economy is slowing down but the question remains, will a recession arrive sooner or later? We continue to anticipate it will be late 2023, or even 2024.
Men
Sadiq Adatia
Weekly Commentary
March 20, 2023
April 2023

The Volatility Wild Card

How far will the SVB contagion reach? What impacts can be felt on regulation, interest rates, and investor sentiment? Which opportunities are flying below the radar?
Common area outside with tall buildings and people walking around
Commentary
March 14, 2023

Big Troubles at Small Banks

This seismic shock was severe enough to negatively impact Canadian banks and their global peers.
Men
Sadiq Adatia
Weekly Commentary
March 13, 2023
April 2023

Chairman Powell’s Senate Shocker

Why did investors seem shocked by Fed Chairman Powell’s hawkish comments to the U.S. Senate? Will the Bank of Canada hold interest rates steady for the rest of 2023?

1 BMO Asset Management Inc., together with its affiliate BMO Investments Inc., as BMO Global Asset Management (BMO GAM), together with its former asset management affiliates in Europe, Asia and the United States, was awarded a 5-star rating in the 2021 Direct Listed Equity – Active Fundamental – Incorporation module by the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UN PRI). The UN PRI is an investor initiative in partnership with UNEP Finance Initiative and UN Global Compact (see www.unpri.org). UN PRI does an independent assessment of all global signatories annually through an extensive questionnaire. Five stars is the highest rating from the UN PRI awarded in this module.

 

2This includes voting activity and engagement conducted on behalf of BMO GAM by the Responsible Engagement Overlay (reo) service offered by former colleagues at BMO GAM EMEA, now part of Columbia Threadneedle, in the period of November and December 2021