Unveiling the Investment in War: Canadian Public Pensions and Israeli Apartheid

On March 27, 2024, a group of passionate individuals convened to discuss a topic of great concern: the investment of Canadian public pensions in companies associated with Israeli apartheid. The meeting featured various stakeholders, experts, and advocates, all united around a shared goal – to shed light on the issue and brainstorm potential solutions. This blog post will dive deep into the matters discussed during this enlightening session.

A Special Guest: Karen Rodman

One of the highlights of the meeting was the announcement of a special guest for the subsequent session – Karen Rodman. A prominent figure in the advocacy community, Karen is part of both <a href=’Just”>http://www.justpeaceadvocates.ca/’>Just Peace Advocates and the <a href=’Canadian”>http://www.bdscoalition.ca/’>Canadian BDS Coalition. She was slated to speak about Public Pension divestment, specifically focusing on the investments made by Canadian pension plans in companies accused of violating international law.

Just Peace Advocates: A Closer Look

Founded in 2018, Just Peace Advocates has been instrumental in providing legal context to campaigners and has successfully prevented Canada from securing a seat on the UNSC. Their significant achievements include working with the <a href=’Al”>https://www.alhaq.org/’>Al Haq on various projects and leading campaigns against banks such as the ‘Elbit Shame On Scotia’ campaign.

Canadian Pension Plan: The Reality

One of the key topics discussed during the meeting was the investments made by the Canadian Pension Plan. According to a report by <a href=’The”>https://breachmedia.ca/canadian-pension-funds-invested-israeli-apartheid/’>The Breach, Canadian pension funds have invested a staggering $1.6 billion in companies linked to Israeli apartheid. Despite promising a review, the CPP did not conduct a comprehensive investigation, a point of contention among advocates.

The Role of Unions and Financial Advisors

One of the meeting participants, Joseph Taylor, raised a pertinent question about how to gather information about these investments. This led to a discussion on the roles of union leaders and financial advisors in influencing changes in these public plans. The meeting concluded that educating these stakeholders is crucial for initiating change.

Next Steps and Call to Action

As the meeting wound down, participants pondered over the next steps. They agreed on the need to put MPs and Trudeau on notice and considered launching legal cases related to charities supporting settlements and the IDF. They also expressed interest in working on various Canadian pension plans and deliberated on the potential of using the Access to Information Act (ATIP) to gather information.

To make a difference, we need more hands-on deck. Consider joining this critical conversation and help us shape a more equitable and peaceful world. Reach out to <a href=’mailto:karen.rodman@justpeaceadvocates.ca‘>Karen Rodman for more information or sign up for the <a href=’Just”>https://www.justpeaceadvocates.ca/contact-us/’>Just Peace Advocates newsletter to stay updated on these issues.

Freedom Advocacy Network

recent posts

about