Advancing Racial Equity in Canada
Investors for Racial Equity
The Investors for Racial Equity Project is a joint initiative between SHARE and the Urban Alliance on Race Relations (UARR), dedicated to mobilizing financial capital to advance racial equity in Canada. Recognizing that capital has historically contributed to racial oppression, this project aims to redirect its influence toward positive systemic change in the financial and corporate sectors. Investors have a critical role to play in advancing racial equity in the ways in which they allocate and steward capital across the Canadian economy.
The Urban Alliance on Race Relations (UARR) is a non-profit charitable organization that works primarily and proactively with the community, public and private sectors to provide educational programs and research, which are critical in addressing racism in society.
SHARE (Shareholder Association of Research and Education) is a non-profit organization dedicated to mobilizing investor leadership for a sustainable, inclusive, and productive economy. Using shareholder engagement, advisory services, research and education, SHARE helps investors steward their assets in ways that contribute to positive social and environmental outcomes.
tangible and practical opportunities
Dismantling ongoing impacts of systemic racism
The Investors for Racial Equity Project provides institutional investors with tangible, practical opportunities to leverage their power and influence in addressing and dismantling the ongoing impacts of systemic racism, including:
Investor Education
Equipping investors with cutting-edge research and strategies to understand systemic racism and integrate racial equity into decision-making.
Developing Tools and Resources
Developing practical frameworks and guidance to help investors embed racial equity across their portfolios through asset manager oversight and engagement, improving corporate accountability, and other issues.
Corporate Engagement
Engaging with companies to strengthen their racial equity policies and practices both in the workplace and across broader business operations, through dialogue, shareholder resolutions for initiatives such as conducting independent third-party racial equity audits.
Policy Advocacy
Working with institutional investors and policymakers, to advocate for meaningful measures to advance racial equity in Canada such as improved public disclosure around diversity, equity, inclusion indicators.
Investor Tools
Embedding Racial Equity in Investment Management
The Investors for Racial Equity Project has launched two new resources to help move racial equity from aspiration to action, The Asset Manager Evaluation Tool and Advancing Racial Equity: A Guide for Asset Managers.
Together, these tools will help asset owners and asset managers strengthen their commitments to racial equity in every aspect of their decision-making – from internal hiring practices to shareholder engagement strategies.
Sustainable Development Goals
Our Approach
Our approach to racial equity is closely aligned with sustainable development goals (SDG) 1 and 10, of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015.
Goal 1: No Poverty
This goal calls to: Eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere, and implement social protection systems to reduce poverty, including by addressing systemic barriers and discrimination that disproportionately affect marginalized communities. (Target 1.2 & 1.4)
Goal 10: Reduce Inequality Within and Among Countries
Goal 10 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, calls to: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard. (Target 10.3)
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