News release

Smith School of Business at Queen's University is launching Canada's first-ever research initiative focused on deepening Canada’s knowledge and understanding of a powerful succession model that can enhance outcomes for owners, employees and communities: employee ownership. With funding support from Jon Shell, Chair of Social Capital Partners and a board member at Employee Ownership Canada, the Employee Ownership Research Initiative (EORI) will be housed in Smith’s Centre for Entrepreneurship Innovation & Social Impact (CEISI). The initiative will shape a made-in-Canada approach to employee ownership and create a multi-disciplinary network of academics, researchers, practitioners and businesses to fill gaps in relevant data, expertise and business-oriented resources to support employee-ownership activities across the country.

Heather Scoffield is founding CEO of a new independent nonprofit Canadian institution created to lead an informed national conversation on the links between taxation, economic fairness and a thriving democracy. Under her leadership, the Canadian Tax Observatory will drive in-depth research that pulls apart the strands of our current system so that we can thoroughly evaluate where we are and engage Canadians in a broad discussion about how to support economic growth while improving the fairness of Canada’s tax system. Over the next six months, the Observatory will connect with researchers in Canada, build alliances globally and develop its research agenda.

Social Capital Partners is seeking a highly organized and proactive Executive Assistant (EA) to the CEO who thrives in a fast-paced, mission-oriented environment. While this is a true EA position focused on keeping the CEO and team operating at a high level, it is also a unique opportunity to engage in a wide range of stimulating policy and strategy conversations, including the chance to conduct research, contribute to policy initiatives and engage with influential leaders in the field.

Social Capital Partners and other funders announce a new, non-partisan, nonprofit Canadian organization to lead an informed national conversation on the links between taxation, economic fairness and a thriving democracy. The Canadian Tax Observatory is seeking a visionary leader who can shape and grow a permanent, influential Canadian institution connected to global networks identifying better, more effective ways to achieve tax fairness.

Social Capital Partners and other funders announce a new, non-partisan, nonprofit Canadian organization to lead an informed national conversation on the links between taxation, economic fairness and a thriving democracy. The Canadian Tax Observatory is seeking a visionary leader who can shape and grow a permanent, influential Canadian institution connected to global networks identifying better, more effective ways to achieve tax fairness.

Advisory Board members will advise on SCP’s strategy and agenda, drawing on decades of experience across finance, business, government, public policy, communications, civil society and community economic development.

After four years of research, engagement and advocacy, the federal government has finalized the legislative and tax structure for Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs). Social Capital Partners and the Canadian Employee Ownership Coalition are grateful for the government's careful work to make EOTs an attractive option for business owners.

In the US and the UK, employee-owned companies grow faster, pay better, are less prone to lay-offs or bankruptcies in economic downturns, and are more likely to keep jobs in local economies. Due to supportive public policy, EOTs are a popular structure for business succession in those countries and have generated significant wealth for front-line employees. Canada does not have a business structure comparable to the employee ownership trust (EOT).

This new report critically analyzes Canada’s flagship wealth survey, the Survey of Financial Security (SFS), and outlines how its methodological shortcomings lead to significant underreporting of wealth inequality.

Social Capital Partners announces the appointment of Matthew Mendelsohn as its new CEO, effective January 2, 2024. Jon Shell, SCP’s current Managing Director will become SCP’s Chair.