Wealth and ownership are concentrated in very few hands in Canada, and it is getting worse. Those who have the most influence on public policy seem fine with that. We are not.
About
We support ideas and policies that create more opportunities for working people to build wealth and own assets.
We have backgrounds in politics, business, finance and government. We believe in free and fair markets, but right now markets are neither. Our economy is working for those who already have wealth and power.
It is obvious to us that the structure of our economy is destabilizing democratic societies. It is obvious to us that the barriers to economic security and asset ownership for young people and working people are too high.
And we think our conventional public policy and economic narratives have few answers for the well-founded anger and anxiety that many people feel.
We are building better narratives and ambitious policy solutions that are grounded in evidence about what is really going on.
We believe working people deserve a fighting chance to build economic security and wealth.
And we will use all our resources to support that fight.
Our story
Since 2001, Social Capital Partners has been incubating and investing in ideas that expand economic opportunity in Canada. Along the way, we’ve had both wins and setbacks. We’ve scaled social enterprises, invested in community infrastructure and social finance, piloted community loan programs and worked with employers to attract and upskill employees.
In the last five years, we’ve zeroed in on one big idea: pushing for policies to help employees become owners of the businesses they work for. With our expert and diverse network, we successfully secured the introduction of Employee Ownership Trusts to Canada—unlocking wealth, financial security and economic resilience for workers and communities.
Now, we’re taking on a bigger challenge: the concentration of economic and political power. Extreme wealth inequality undermines economic resilience and social stability, and we’re here to change that. It’s the natural next step in our mission to build an economy where more people are owners and have agency over their economic future.
What we believe
Capitalism has changed in fundamental ways, but how we think and talk about the economy has not caught up.
Economic rules and practices are made by humans and can be changed.
The new rules and practices of capitalism are concentrating wealth in fewer hands while most people struggle.
Highly unequal societies are unstable societies – and not in anyone’s long-term interests.
Big financial and corporate interests have been winning too much and we want them to start losing more.
Well-designed public policy and properly deployed capital can create more pathways for working people to own assets, build wealth and gain economic security.
What makes us different
We’re independently funded, which means we can take bold risks and chase transformative solutions that others can’t.
We take on ambitious policies and projects that could deliver real, lasting benefits for working people. We’re not afraid to take risks when there’s a shot at big, meaningful change and we’re ready to challenge entrenched interests if it means improving lives for Canadians.
Our staff includes former entrepreneurs, private-sector investors and political and public-sector leaders. We know how systems work, how to make change and we’re not afraid to tell the truth as we see it.
Our advisors and fellows bring deep knowledge and diverse expertise to challenge our thinking and help us spot big ideas that governments can run with—ideas that create the right incentives, can work at scale and deliver systemic and enduring change.
