Canada is wealthy, with enormous pools of capital to invest. Our investment funds are respected globally. We can put some of these investments to better use for the public good.
Financial returns are important for investors, but capital can be used to achieve more than financial returns.
We need to put more capital to work for the common good, like building affordable housing and community infrastructure. Right now, too much capital is being used to enrich the wealthy and concentrate economic and political power in fewer hands.
Over the years, SCP has been an early supporter of community finance, a pioneer in impact investing and an early investor in social enterprises. We need to do more to scale the use of investment capital to achieve public purpose.
Pension funds, public and private financial institutions and philanthropists can all do a better job of investing their capital in ways that lead to better economic and social outcomes for working people and communities.
On this topic
Joint submission to the Ontario Securities Commission regarding a proposal to expand retail investor access to private equity
CAMP and SCP made a joint submission to the Ontario Securities Commission detailing deep concerns about proposals related to expanding retail investor access to private equity funds. Both organizations are focused, among other matters, on educating Canadians and our policymakers about the risks associated with buyout private-equity funds and the harms they can cause.
Inside the corporate battle over your pet’s health | The Fifth Estate
SCP Fellow Rachel Wasserman speaks with CBC's Steven D'Souza as part of an investigation into the skyrocketing cost of owning a pet. The documentary reveals how independent vet clinics are being gobbled up by multinational corporations and private equity for profit.
Rate drop rebate: final evaluation report
The story of the Rate Drop Rebate pilot, including key milestones, successes, dilemmas, insights and lessons learned. The Rate Drop Rebate was a unique partnership that brought SCP together with financial institutions, publicly funded employment service providers and the Government to reduce unfair barriers to employment and help grow the province’s small and mid-sized businesses.
Ontario financial institutions and government join forces to boost local businesses and do good in communities
Rate Drop Rebate™ pilot is expected to significantly impact those facing barriers to employment include students with limited work experience, long-term unemployed, older unemployed, people with disabilities, newcomers to Canada and unemployed Indigenous persons. The program aims to generate up to 1,100 new employment opportunities.
Ontario improving employment opportunities for people facing barriers
Ontario is partnering with leading financial institutions to build on Social Capital Partners existing loan program and create a fund aimed at increasing employment opportunities for people facing employment barriers.
Partnership council on employment oportunities for people with disabilities
The Partnership Council champions the hiring of people with disabilities and provides strategic advice to the Ontario Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure to enhance employment opportunities for Ontarians with disabilities.
Social Capital Partners and Ontario Government to begin consultations with Canadian financial institutions for a Community Loan Pilot Project
Social Capital Partners announces innovative collaboration with the Government of Ontario designed to explore a novel social finance approach that provides employment opportunities for people with disabilities and other vulnerable populations.
Social Capital Partners’ collaboration with the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Employment
Social Capital Partners collaborates with Ontario government’s Office of Social Enterprise to explore a pay-for-performance model that will increase access to employment opportunities for persons with disabilities, new Canadians and other traditionally disadvantaged groups.
Working together: Implementing a demand-led employment and training system
Canada’s approach to training and development needs reform. Billions of dollars are spent annually on job training and skills development, with limited evidence of lasting benefits. Most problematic, employers’ talent needs (i.e., actual skills demand) are not formally embedded in the process of determining how or where money is spent, leaving a fundamental disconnect between demand for skills and the investments being made by governments.
Social return on investment report: TurnAround Couriers
SCP reports on six years of TurnAround Couriers, a social-purpose business dedicated to helping at-risk youth in the Greater Toronto Area overcome social and economic obstacles by providing them with a chance to get ahead.
