Workers’ deferred wages and retirement savings in Canada amount to over $2 trillion

And this money is invested in markets across the globe. Although workers are the indirect owners of countless public companies, infrastructure projects, real estate, private funds and other assets, they have very little control over how their capital is invested.

Who we are

The Canadian Capital Stewardship Network

The CCSN Secretariat is based at the Shareholder Association for Research and Education (SHARE). It was launched at the SHARE Investor Summit in February, 2020. The CCSN draws strategic guidance from an advisory board of union representatives.

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How we support unions

What We Do

The CCSN mobilizes investors to use their voices as shareholders to support corporate practices that protect human and labour rights.

Trustee Network Building

By collaborating with union representatives and trustees, we build a community of practice for trustees to embed ESG issues within their funds.

Campaigns Support

We support unions in developing and executing capital stewardship strategies that can be used to supplement efforts to secure workers’ rights on the ground, as one component of a broader campaign.

Policy Advocacy

Asset Manager Accountability

We aim to shift the balance of power in the investment chain by enabling asset owners to hold the asset managers they contract accountable on ESG issues.

About Workers’ Capital & Capital Stewardship

Workers have organized and bargained collectively to ensure entitlements to benefits and security throughout their working lives and into retirement. These deferred wages and savings – known as “workers’ capital” – are accumulated in collectively funded pools such as pension plans, strike funds and benefit plans.

This capital can be a tremendous source of power in building an economy that upholds workers’ rights and advances broader societal goals for a just and sustainable economy.

Capital stewardship refers to the rights and responsibilities that investors have as shareholders and owners of assets. Once an investment decision is made, investors can use their voices as shareholders to support corporate practices that protect human and labour rights.

The Team

Jacob Leibovitch

Program Officer, Capital Strategies

Jacob joined SHARE in October 2021 and currently holds the position of Program Officer in support of the Capital Strategies program, specifically the Canadian Capital Stewardship Network (CCSN).

Prior to joining SHARE, Jacob held various positions within the Canadian Labour Movement including the United Steelworkers, Ontario Taxi Workers Union, Service Employees International Union and the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists. Jacob’s extensive experience and contributions to these organizations include capital stewardship, research, communications and organizing.

Hugues Létourneau

Associate Director, Responsible Investment Leadership

Hugues joined the SHARE team in 2013, and currently directs the Global Unions Committee on Workers’ Capital (CWC), whose Secretariat is based at SHARE. In this role, he works with trade unions and trade union-nominated pension board members to drive strong, responsible investment policies that have an impact on the ground. He is also a member of the Shareholder Engagement team and a lead corporate researcher for international clients.

Hugues has successfully completed the level II exam of the CFA Program. He holds a Master of Arts degree in International Affairs from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto.

He is a contributing author to the Routledge Handbook on Responsible Investment (2015), with research focusing on responsible investing at the world’s largest government-sponsored investment funds. Prior to joining SHARE, Hugues worked at the Library of Parliament and the Mission of Canada to the European Union. He was also a research assistant at the North South Institute and the Carleton Centre for Community Innovation.

Advisory Board

Our Advisory board is comprised of a diverse group of trade union movement representatives and labour-nominated pension trustees.

Paul Finch

BRITISH COLUMBIA GENERAL EMPLOYEES’ UNION (BCGEU)

Harpinder Sandhu

CUPE NATIONAL RESEARCH REPRESENTATIVE 

Marie-Josée Naud

LA FÉDÉRATION DES TRAVAILLEURS ET TRAVAILLEUSES DU QUÉBEC (FTQ)

Tom Gallivan

SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION (SEIU) LOCAL 2

Meg Gingrich

UNITED STEELWORKERS (USW)

Chris Roberts

CANADIAN LABOUR CONGRESS (CLC)

James Infantino

PUBLIC SERVICE ALLIANCE OF CANADA (PSAC)

Michelle Travis

UNITE HERE LOCAL 40