Responsible investing is growing in Canada. Which ESG factors matter most? + MORE Nov 9th

Responsible investing—that is, investing that takes into account environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors—has received a lot of attention in recent years, but is that reflected in how Canadians choose to invest?

According to the 2023 Canadian Responsible Investment Trends Report, released on Oct. 26 by the Responsible Investment Association (RIA), the answer is yes: investors continue to prioritize responsible investing, and more growth is expected as local and international reporting standards improve. Survey responses are from Canadian institutional asset managers and asset owners who answered questions in mid-2023. The data shared paints a picture of the industry on Dec. 31, 2022. Here are some highlights from the report.

About half of assets under management are invested responsibly

With $2.9 trillion of assets under management in responsible investments (RI) in Canada, this is no small industry. And while this number is a slight decrease from the previous year, that’s a product of market conditions: it actually reflects a higher proportion of all Canadian professionally managed assets than in 2021, and RI’s market share has grown from 47% to 49%…

If you missed the acclaimed movie BlackBerry in theatres, it’s airing on CBC and streaming on CBC Gem as a three-part series—with additional scenes—beginning November 9. The limited series chronicles the making and unmaking of Canada’s global technology champion of the early 21st century. Entertaining as it is, the show also contains some important lessons for investing in technology startups. MoneySense spoke with Jacquie McNish, co-author of Losing the Signal: The Untold Story Behind the Extraordinary Rise and Spectacular Fall of BlackBerry (Flatiron Books, 2015), the book upon which the series is based, about the takeaways for investors.

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1. Starting and scaling a global tech leader from Canada is hard 

“We are a risk-averse country,” says McNish. “We are dominated by large corporations, whether in banking or technology or real estate.” BlackBerry—then known as Research in Motion, and RIM for short—only got noticed in Canada after it was backed by American investors and banks, and lauded by the likes of Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Dell and GE’s Jack Welch…

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MoneySense is an award-winning magazine, helping Canadians navigate money matters since 1999. Our editorial team of trained journalists works closely with leading personal finance experts in Canada. To help you find the best financial products, we compare the offerings from over 12 major institutions, including banks, credit unions and card issuers. Learn more about our advertising and trusted partners.

The best balance transfer credit cards in Canada for 2023

By Keph Senett on November 9, 2023

If you carry a balance on a regular credit card, chances are you’re paying around 20% in interest…

Are you missing out on free money for your child’s education? If you haven’t opened a registered education savings plan (RESP), the answer would be yes. Contributing to an RESP can give you access to valuable government grants, including the Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG), which is worth up to $7,200. That’s enough for one year of undergraduate tuition at a Canadian university—but many families are leaving a lot of government money on the table. According to Statistics Canada, in 2019, just 53% of those with a child under age 18 had an RESP.

Why open an RESP? Grants and tax-deferred growth

The federal government introduced the RESP nearly 50 years ago to help families save for their kids’ post-secondary education. The big draw for parents: Investment growth inside an RESP was (and still is) tax-sheltered. You can contribute up to $50,000 per child into an RESP, and the account can stay open for up to 35 years.

In the years since the RESP was launched, the government has added grant programs to further encourage families to save…