Federal PSP: Investments in companies complicit with international law violations

Take a minute to write to the PSP CEO. Demand PSP divest from companies complicit in  war crimes and genocide.

Based on PSPs most recent filing with the UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION FORM 13F, PSP is invested in five companies (AirBNB, Booking.com, Expedia, Motorola, Trip Advisor) that are listed in the United Nations (UN) Database of companies complicit with human rights violations.

Beyond this PSP is invested in at least 25 additional companies deemed by AFSC Investigate and several other verified sources to have substantial, ongoing, and intentional complicity in severe violations of human rights and international law related to occupied Palestine and the Syrian Golan. Several of these companies include Caterpillar, Elbit, Chevron, General Electric, General Dynamics, HP, L3 Harris, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Teva.

A number of these companies are complicit in the arms trade with Israel and/or Israel’s military operations and/or settlements. In addition, there are additional companies identified on the Canada Stopping Arming Israel listing that PSP is invested in such as Honeywell and Scotiabank

Check the full list of companies and investments HERE.

In total, PSP investments in the companies listed in the UN database and these other verified sources is $635 Million.

The PSP says that its mandate drives its long-term thinking and investment strategies. This PSP says compels it to balance prospective risk and reward, and to consider long-term trends and ESG factors to ensure the sustainability of its portfolio. Surely investing in war crimes and genocide does not fit with this vision.

The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians – Canada (“ICJP – Canada”) has provided the Government of Canada with notice of intent to seek the prosecution of Canadian officials who are allegedly complicit in Israel’s war crimes. ICJP Canada is also considering expanding the scope of its initiative to pursue accountability of Canadian companies who are allegedly complicit in Israel’s war crimes.

Like Canada’s Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court applies to both state actors and private individuals. The latter makes it an offence to, “aid, abet or otherwise assist,” in the commission of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

PSP needs to take all steps necessary to ensure that the activities of all companies included in its portfolio are in compliance with international and domestic laws.

PSP along with the Canada pension (CPPIB), the Quebec pension (CDPQ), five Ontario public pensions and the BC (BCI) and Alberta (AIMC) public pensions, have over $25 billion investments in companies complicit with Israeli war crimes. Learn more.

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