Call for a New Partnership between the Private, Public and Community Sectors
to Build Canada's Impact Investing Marketplace

Task Force on Social Finance releases anticipated report and recommendations designed to encourage the growth of social enterprise in Canada

TORONTO, Nov. 30 /CNW/ - The Task Force on Social Finance today released its seminal report providing a national strategy to mobilize private capital for public good in Canada. The report sets out catalytic recommendations that call on institutional investors, corporations, philanthropists, foundations and governments to work together to build a robust impact investing marketplace in Canada.  Impact investing is defined as proactively investing in businesses, organizations or funds that generate both a social or environmental AND financial return.

The report sets out seven key actions that Canada needs to undertake, in parallel, to mobilize new sources of capital, develop an enabling tax and regulatory environment, and provide social entrepreneurs with the needed business support to launch, operate and scale their innovative ideas.

Highlights from the report include:

• Strongly encouraging Canadian public and private foundations to invest at least 10% of their capital (totalling $34B) in mission-related investments (MRI) by 2020, potentially unlocking $3.4B for social enterprise.
• Establishing a federal partnership with private, institutional and philanthropic investors to create the Canada Impact Investment Fund.
• Increasing the engagement of Canadian pension funds in impact investing through clarification of fiduciary duty and annual disclosure of impact investing allocations.

"A growing number of enterprising charities, non-profits, co-operatives as well as social purpose businesses are turning to private investors for the financial support they need to launch new initiatives, and grow to make a bigger difference in their work.  The barriers between profit and public purpose are breaking down - both here at home and around the world," said Ilse Treurnicht, CEO of MaRS Discovery District and Chair of the Task Force on Social Finance. "The recommendations outlined in this report provide a framework for large scale change, and could, in combination, unlock the capital required to build prosperous, but sustainable communities for future generations." 

While Canada's impact investing marketplace is relatively young, many of the critical elements are already in place to make this marketplace work:  a new breed of investor who wants to earn money while making a positive impact on society, foundations looking for ways to invest endowment assets in mission-related opportunities, governments willing to look at innovative ways to spawn private investment for social good, and a vibrant community of social entrepreneurs, civic changemakers and innovative social enterprises. 

Launched this October by Social Innovation Generation (SiG), The Task Force on Social Finance is focused on reshaping the way we think about investing in Canada's future.  It will continue to advance this agenda, and review and report on progress towards its recommendations.

Members of the Task Force include:

Ilse Treurnicht - Task Force Chair, CEO of MaRS Discovery District
Tim Brodhead, President and CEO of J.W. McConnell Family Foundation
Paul Martin, Former Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, and founder of the Cape Fund
Stanley Hartt, Chairman of Macquarie Capital Markets Canada
Reeta Roy, President and CEO of The MasterCard Foundation
Tim Jackson, CEO of Accelerator Centre and Partner in Tech Capital
Tamara Vrooman, CEO of Vancity Credit Union
Nancy Neamtan, President and ED of the Chantier de l'économie sociale
Bill Young, President of Social Capital Partners
Sam Duboc, Chairman of Pathways to Education Canada and Founder of Edgestone Capital Partners

For further information:

For more information and interviews with Task Force members please contact:

Geraldine Cahill - Social Innovation Generation 647-260-7844   [email protected]
Christopher Tidey - Media Profile 416 504-8464 ext 307  [email protected]