Affordable and accessible housing continues to be top of mind for Canadians, with prices reaching historic heights and demand far outpacing supply. Join BMO’s Dan Adams and Justin Marchand, Chief Executive Officer at Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services (OAHS), as they discuss the housing crisis facing Indigenous communities as well as individuals in rural and urban areas, and the critical role that OAHS plays in actively making a positive difference in society.

Sustainability Leaders

Solving Canada’s Dire Need for Safe and Affordable Housing

BMO recently hosted a Thinktank event to provide seven young people from Plan International Canada’s “Girl’s Belong Here” program an opportunity to consult and share unique perspectives on sustainability-related issues. The event was facilitated by BMO’s Sustainability team and framed around a 3-part discussion on sustainability and just transition topics. Listen what today’s youth had to say.

Today’s Youth Discuss Sustainability-Related Issues

The lack of common sustainability reporting standards across jurisdictions is a critical challenge for businesses and the financial sector in supporting the global shift to a more sustainable world, and it's an issue that concerns all of us, from climate change leaders to governments and regulators. Join BMO's Jean-Simon Farrah, Director, Canadian Government Relations, Charles Antoine St-Jean, CEO of CPA Canada, and BMO's Simon Fish, Special Advisor on Climate Changes, as they discuss Canada's bid to host the ISSB secretariat and the opportunities and challenges surrounding sustainability reporting standards. 

Canada’s Bid to Host the New ISSB Headquarters

In this second installment of our two-part series on Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, BMO’s Kona Goulet and Dr. Sinclair discuss the history of the residential schools system and its true impact on Canada’s indigenous.

Part 2: Understanding the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation

“We still have that story today. That story today is still very much one that came from residential schools, which is that Indigenous peoples don't matter. So that may be shocking for Canadians, but it's something that people need to hear in order to get to the truth, because we cannot get to reconciliation without understanding what's happened,” says Sustainability Leaders guest Dr. Niigaan Sinclair, Professor in Native Studies and Head of the Native Studies Department at the University of Manitoba.  Join BMO’s Kona Goulet in this two-part series discussion with Dr. Sinclair around the history of Indigenous communities and residential schools system.

Part 1: Understanding the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation

Over the past year and a half, we've seen the business community step up and speak out about diversity and equity like never before. But achieving economic equity not only requires moving beyond meaningful dialogue to taking real action. We recently convened a panel of esteemed business leaders to share their unique perspectives and concrete ideas on how businesses can support efforts to close the racial wealth gap and drive lasting change. A transcript of this episode is available at bmo.com/sustainabilityleaders-podcast.

Closing the Racial Wealth Gap With Measurable Actions

"Investing in housing for all Canadians means removing barriers that exclude so many from a better life," said Sharon Haward-Laird, General Counsel and Co-Chair of BMO's Sustainability Council, BMO Financial Group. BMO recently announced a commitment to finance affordable housing over a ten-year period in support of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's (CMHC) aspiration that all Canadians have a home that they can afford and that meets their needs by 2030. Sharon Haward-Laird joins Sustainability Leaders host Jonathan Hackett, Romy Bowers, President and CEO of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Chief R. Don Maracle, Tyendinaga Mohawk Council, Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, and Mike McGahan, CEO, InterRent REIT to discuss this new commitment to build a more inclusive society. A transcript of this episode is available at bmo.com/sustainabilityleaders-podcast.

Breaking Down Barriers to Affordable Housing

This year’s proxy voting season brought a clear message: Investors want to see greater ambition on climate change. This was especially apparent within the oil and gas sector, where three large companies were mandated to do more to accelerate change. Andrew Logan, Senior Director, Oil and Gas at Ceres, joins Sustainability Leaders host Nalini Feuilloley in a discussion that recaps the recent outcomes for Big Oil during proxy voting season and what it may mean for corporates around the world. Plus, Andrew discusses why it might be a greater risk for companies to be too slow on addressing climate change than moving too quickly. For a transcript of this episode visit bmo.com/sustainabilityleaders-podcast

Big Oil Investors Mandate Action On Climate Change

Sustainability Leaders host Whitney McWade, is joined by Maria Theofilaktidis and Larry Leva, from the IFRS Foundation, and Katie Schmitz Eulitt, with Value Reporting Foundation (formerly Sustainability Accounting Standards Board) to discuss the evolution of corporate reporting in a world where corporations are increasingly expected to manage their businesses in the interest of a wide array of stakeholders, including customers, communities, employees, NGOs, and of course shareholders.

Consolidating the Crowded Sustainability Reporting Landscape

Sustainability Leaders host Jonathan Hackett, is joined by Alec Cheng, who serves as Vice President and Treasurer at Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and John Mauti, OPG's Chief Financial Officer in a conversation about sustainability and the role of nuclear energy as OPG, one of the largest, most diverse low-cost power generators in North America, strides toward a post-carbon economy. For a transcript of this episode visit bmo.com/sustainabilityleaders-podcast

Nuclear Energy and the Sustainability Conversation

Michael Torrance, Chief Sustainability Officer with BMO Financial Group, speaks with Christian Heller, CEO of the Value Balancing Alliance, a not-for-profit group of 16 international companies that focuses on the development and standardization of a management accounting model to protect and create long-term value. Tune in for this discussion about how using better methodologies to assess and incorporate long-term values into decision-making can also help companies maximize profit. For a transcript of this episode visit bmo.com/sustainabilityleaders-podcast.

Value Balancing Alliance: Going Beyond Financials

Guest host Kona Goulet, Head, Indigenous Equity and Inclusion, BMO and Cree-Métis originally from La Ronge in Northern Saskatchewan, Canada, speaks to Dr. Bob Kayseas, Interim President and Vice President Academic of First Nations University of Canada, who specializes in Indigenous Business and Public Administration. As we reflect on the tragic discovery of the remains of an estimated 215 children on the grounds of a former residential school in Kamloops, British Columbia, join us in this conversation about the legacy and impact of the Indian Residential School system, Indigenous history, and the important role of education in the road to reconciliation.

Looking Back to Go Forward with Indigenous Communities

In this special episode of Sustainability Leaders, Dan Barclay, CEO of BMO Capital Markets, moderates a discussion on trends across the food and agriculture value chain with takeaways from BMO’s 16th Annual Farm to Market Conference. BMO experts include Joel Jackson, Fertilizers and Chemicals Analyst; Kelly Bania, Food Retail Analyst; and Ken Zaslow, Food and Agribusiness Analyst. Dan and the three analysts discuss this resilient industry that has survived and even thrived during challenging times and take a deep dive into core themes at this year’s conference, including the importance of ESG practices, concerns over inflation, and supply chain challenges. For a transcript of this episode visit bmo.com/sustainabilityleaders-podcast.

Biggest Trends in Food and Ag, From ESG to Inflation to the Supply Chain

BMO was pleased host a special discussion in conjunction with Suncor and the Milken Institute, on streamlining and financing the business transition to a lower-carbon future. Moderated by Dan Barclay, Chief Executive Officer, BMO Capital Markets, a panel of experts looked at how the industry is mapping the march toward net zero and banks’ roles in financing the transition. For a transcript of this episode visit bmo.com/sustainabilityleaders-podcast

Financing a Smooth and Sustainable Recovery

BMO hosted a discussion in conjunction with Suncor and the Milken Institute, on streamlining and financing the business transition to a lower-carbon future. Moderated by Dan Barclay, Chief Executive Officer, BMO Capital Markets, a panel of experts looked at how the industry is mapping the march toward net zero and banks’ roles in financing the transition. For a transcript of this episode visit bmo.com/sustainabilityleaders-podcast

Sustainability is a rapidly evolving field, driven by billions of dollars in global investment. Join hosts Michael Torrance, Manju Seal and David Sneyd in this podcast series, as we introduce you to the innovative minds and diverse perspectives that are pushing the boundaries in sustainability good practice. With topics ranging from climate change to sustainable finance and green bonds to human rights and responsible investing, we explore the world of corporate sustainability through interviews with corporate practitioners, investors, scholars and the NGO community.

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Sustainability Leaders

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