Madam Speaker, maybe by asking the hon. member a question, I might be able to help answer a question from over here.
The Canada pension plan trust document specifically excludes or prohibits taking into consideration anything other than getting the maximum rate of return, whereas ethical investment funds, such as OPSEU, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union pension fund, which is a jointly trusteed pension plan, stipulates that the funds should earn a reasonable rate of return.
That is the type of thing that we are recommending. If we were to lighten up on the language a little in the Canada pension plan trust document, we would be able to take into consideration other issues and still get a reasonable rate of return. It would not give licence for the trustees to make a bad investment simply because they are ideologically in favour of it, but it would allow some latitude.
The Ontario-based hospitals of Ontario pension plan, which is another massive plan, has four major ethical criteria. Its president, Mr. Ed Baker, said:
In order to meet the actuarial assumptions, you don't need the biggest returns. What you need is a return that is reasonable and done in a very responsible manner.
Socially responsible investments is what we are pushing.