[Investment in South Africa]
https://archives.anglican.ca/link/official3155
- Date
- 1977 December 6
- Source
- Anglican News Service
- Type
- Press Release
- Text of motion
- For immediate release -- December 6, 1977
- Churches, as legitimate corporate shareholders, have made presentations concerning investments in South Africa to the annual meetings of Canada's Banks before. They will do it again this year, but this time there is a difference.
- There is growing support amongst Canadian "opinion-makers" for the Churches' stand. In fact a surprising number of well-known Canadians, many not noted in the past for their agreement with the Church, are backing its stand on this matter:
- "I wish to support the position taken by the Anglican, United, Roman Catholic and Lutheran Churches calling for a halt to Canadian Bank loans to the government of South Africa and its agencies, until the imposition of apartheid is discontinued."
- A partial list of those who have signed the above statement is enclosed.
- Here is a sampling of their remarks:
- "I support that churches' position very strongly indeed, and I am glad to know that such action is being taken by so many of the Canadian Churches." - Margaret Laurence (Author)
- "I can only sign on a personal basis and not in my official job capacity...I am in complete support of the position of the Churches with regard to Canadian bank loans to the Government of South Africa." - Kathleen Ruff (Human Rights Branch, B.C. Ministry of Labour)
- "I appreciate very much the highly intelligent and practical approach which the Taskforce [on the Churches and Corporate Responsibility] is making to the whole problem, and I wish them every success with it." - Lloyd R. Shaw (Chairman, L.E. Shaw Ltd. Halifax)
- "Your letter and the accompanying folder are excellent, and I am delighted to add my name to the group of signers who support the churches' position." - Thomas L. Perry, M.D. (Professor of Pharmacology, U.B.C.)
- "I am deeply concerned about the worsening situation in Southern Africa and, as a Canadian, the involvement of Canadian banks, mining companies and other business interests in South Africa and Namibia. I welcome the stand taken by the Canadian churches." - J. King Gordon (Past President, U.S. Association in Canada)
- "I am please to associate myself with the Churches' business and have signed the slip." - Emmett M. Hall, C.C., Q.C., D.C.L., D.Med. (Saskatoon)
- "I would be happy to have my name added to your list of supporters...and hope that your efforts will be effective in changing the role of the banks, and also of our government. Please note that I have signed...as an individual." - Kay MacPherson (President, the National Action Committee on the Status of Women)
- The Churches will be represented at shareholders' meetings of all the major banks. Following is the schedule:
- Toronto-Dominion Bank, Wednesday, December 7, 11am, Toronto-Dominion Centre Cinema
- Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Tuesday, December 13, 11 am, Commerce Hall
- Bank of Nova Scotia, Wednesday, December 14, 11 am, Hotel Nova Scotia, Halifax
- Royal Bank, Thursday, January 12, 11 am, Montreal
- Bank of Montreal, Monday, January 16, 11 am, Chateau Champlain, Montreal
- The full text of the statements will be available on the day of the meetings. The statements will vary because, contrary to the impression given by the banking community, there is evidence that there are differences in the attitude towards investment in South Africa on the part of some of the banks. It should be noted that some international banks in both Europe and the USA have made public policy statements on this matter. No major Canadian bank has, to this point.
- For further information, contact:
- Renate Pratt,
- Co-ordinator,
- Taskforce on the Churches and Corporate Responsibility,
- 600 Jarvis Street,
- Toronto
- 923-1758
- or
- The Rev. Peter Hamel,
- Consultant,
- National Affairs,
- Anglican Church of Canada,
- 924-9192 ext. 248
- Notes
- I wish to support the position taken by the Anglican, United, Roman Catholic and Lutheran Churches calling for a halt to Canadian bank loans to the government of South Africa and its agencies, until the imposition of apartheid is discontinued.
- R.T. Affleck, Architect
- Gregory Baum, Theologian, St. Michael's College
- Pierre Berton, Author and Broadcaster
- Edward Broadbent, Leader, New Democratic Party of Canada
- Rosemary Brown, Member of B.C. Legislative Assembly
- June Callwood, Broadcaster and Journalist
- Dr. K. Chetty, Canada-Southern Africa Relief Committee
- Pierre De Bane, M.P. for Matine, P.Q.
- Geoffrey H. Durrant, Faculty of English, University of British Columbia
- Georges Erasmus, President, Indian Brotherhood of the N.W.T.
- Gordon Fairweather, Chairman, Canadian Human Rights Commission
- Dr. Laing Ferguson, President, Amnesty International
- Eugene Forsey, Senator
- James Foulkes, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia
- Carole Geller, Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission
- King Gordon, Executive Member and Past President of United Nations Assoc. of Canada
- Len Guy, B.C. Federation of Labour
- Emmett Hall, Honourary President, Canadian Civil Liberties Association
- Wilson Head, Scientist, York University, Toronto
- Abigail Hoffman
- Marlene Hunter, M.D.
- Mel Hurtig, Publisher, Edmonton
- William Hutt, Actor
- Dr. A.M. Inglis, Canada-Southern Africa Relief Committee
- Bruce Kidd, Professor, Physical Education, University of Toronto
- William Kilbourn, Professor of History, York University
- Laurier LaPierre, University Professor and Broadcaster
- Margaret Laurence, Author
- David Lewis, past leader, the New Democratic Party of Canada
- Kathleen MacPherson
- The Very Rev. Angus J. MacQueen, Chancellor, Mt. Allison University, N.S.
- The Very Rev. N. Bruce McLeod, Commissioner, Ontario Human Rights Commission
- Bennett Metcalfe, Journalist, B.C.
- Joe Morris, President, Canadian Labour Congress
- Christina Newman, Executive Editor, Saturday Night
- Hon. Howard R. Pawley, former Manitoba Attorney General
- Thomas Perry, Professor of Pharmacology, University of British Columbia
- Walter Pitman, President, Ryerson Polytechical Institute, Toronto
- Harry Rankin, Rankin & Company, Barristers and Solicitors, Vancouver, B.C.
- Dr. Peter Richardson, Principal, University College, Toronto
- Abraham Rotstein, Dept. of Political Economy, University of Toronto
- Kathleen Ruff, Director, B.C. Human Rights Code
- William Saywell, Principal, Innis College, Toronto
- Lloyd R. Shaw, Chairman, L.E. Shaw Limited, Halifax, N.S.
- Don Taylor, United Steelworkers of America
- Murray Thomson, President, Canadian Council of International Co-operation
- The Rev. G.E. Topshee, Director, Coady International Institute, N.S.
- David Walsh, President, Realco Property Ltd., Toronto
- Patrick Watson, Broadcaster and Journalist
- Robin Wilson, Executive Director, Canadian University Service Overseas
- Sandra Witherspoon, M.D., Vancouver, B.C.
- * positions given for identification purposes only.
- Subjects
- Apartheid - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
- South Africa - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
- Economic sanctions - South Africa
- Economic sanctions - South Africa - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
- Corporate social responsibility - Canada
- Taskforce on the Churches and Corporate Responsibility (TCCR)