Socially Responsible Investment Policy
‘No’ to Big Tobacco
The First Open Heart Society recently took a proactive stand against ‘Big Tobacco’, as we passed a Socially Responsible Investment Policy to ensure that any investments of the society do not in any way support the tobacco industry. Taking the lead from Physicians for a Smoke Free Canada (PSC), the policy dictates that any funds invested are consistent with the society’s mandate of supporting cardiovascular patients. The Board recognizes that it is inconsistent to invest, no matter how indirectly, in tobacco companies, and the sales and production of tobacco products, as such investments provide revenue to these companies to promote their product: a product identified by Health Canada as known to be one of the leading causes of premature death in Canada, specifically, death caused by cardiovascular disease application.