Making ESG into ESGI: Letter to the Secretary General, Canadian Securities Administrators
The signatories to this letter are all involved in enabling the economic and social development of Indigenous peoples including by improving relationships with financial institutions, business partners and other governments. Each organization that has signed this letter advocates for their members on financial matters that matter to them.
All signatories agree that Indigenous peoples will be profoundly affected by the decisions the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) will make on Environmental/Social/Governance (ESG), and on diversity and inclusion regulations.
Securities regulation is the backbone of the global economy. Without it there would be no stability, investment decisions would be more difficult, and the investment arena would contain significantly more risk. The growing global recognition that ESG will guide how our economies operate presents a leadership opportunity for securities regulators. Entities are now evaluated by how others view their commitment to ESG. The recognition by the United Nations through UNDRIP sends a clear message that Indigenous interests & rights exist and need to be reflected in how we conduct our affairs. Recognizing the need to include Indigenous people in this backbone will bring Indigenous people into the mainstream, build their capacity and that of their governments, and help move them out of poverty, which will be a benefit to all.