Royal Bank Takes Social Finance Leadership

By: JeromeDowney

Recently the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) suffered a public relations setback with the announcements of the outsourcing of  jobs within the banks internal administrative IT division. This type of negative media focus has been prevalent since the 2008 financial crisis for many banks. With record job losses, home foreclosures and the rise of predatory B lending capital there has been no shortage of material for public’s scrutiny. However with that said positive solutions must come out of this financial crisis one way or another. And that is where the concept of social finance as a new financial tool of lending capital has an opportunity to succeed.

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A Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) logo is seen at a branch in Toronto. (© Mark Blinch / Reuters/Mark Blinch /REUTERS)

Finance As a Tool of Equity and Growth

The financial service sector has always been an engine of economic growth for North America’s economy. The development of different financial instruments, products, services and credit approval criteria has revolutionized how money is exchanged between consumers and merchants. In Canada our finances have become increasingly digitized. We have online banking, secured/unsecured credit cards, and simple debt cards. We have online equity trading platforms and a verity of other tools that enables the economic flow of capital. However there has been little development on the technology of lending criteria. The big question social finance can help us answer is “How do we value the human element of capital”?

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Ottawa City’s First Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Roundtable

Ottawa – The City will be hosting its first ever Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Roundtable on Saturday, March 23, 2013. Predicted to be a day of engaging discussion, response to the event has been extremely positive, with registration filling up within a week of its announcement. The morning will feature presentations by well-known and respected panellists who will provide an update on the state of the issue, with a focus on both policies and programs that are being implemented to address climate change issues. The presentations will be followed by an open mic exchange between panellists and participants. The morning session will be webcast to give all residents an opportunity to share in the discussion.

“Climate change is a significant and well-documented phenomenon,” said Mayor Jim Watson. “Working with our residents and both levels of Government, the City of Ottawa will continue the challenging task of reducing the long-term, harmful effect of GHGs on our climate and the environment.”

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City Council committed to hosting the Roundtable when the results of its 2004 and 2008 GHG inventory were received. This event supports the City’s commitment to producing a renewed and integrated Climate Change Plan for Ottawa that will build on the important work currently underway with the Official Plan, Transportation and Infrastructure Master Plan updates.  These, combined with the reporting of the 2012 GHG inventory, will set the stage for delivery of a comprehensive Air Quality and Climate Change Management Plan for Ottawa to be completed in the first half of 2014.

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Government working with Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada

PM Harper aannounces support for defibrillators in community hockey arenas

February 21, 2013
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that the Government of Canada is working with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (HSFC) to put in place Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) and related training in community hockey arenas across the country in order to help save lives.

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“Our Government is committed to protecting the health and safety of Canadians while encouraging active and healthy lifestyles,” said the Prime Minister. “We are proud to work with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and its partners to provide defibrillators and trained personnel to use them at community arenas across the country.”

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African Canadian Hero: Nova Scotia

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A Black History Month Tribute to My Grandfather Graham Leo. Downey

Transcending The Racial Divide

My grandfather Graham Leo Downey is part of a family that included seven brothers, three sisters and a foster sister. He was born in Halifax in 1939 to George Alexander Downey and Leotra (Tomlinson).  He attended Joseph Howe Elementary School, and he considers himself a graduate of the “school of hard knocks”.

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What makes Linkedin so special ?

“We connect the world’s professionals to make them more productive and successful.”   

                   – Gary Fearnall, Director of Global Marketing Solutions Linkedin.

The image below is a look at the very impressive kit that Linkedin prepared for a special marketing presentation at the Canadian National Arts Center in Ottawa yesterday. I was impressed with not only how professional and informative the event was but also with the quality of interaction and engagement. The Linkedin platform is a mature tool that can help solve many of the current issues and challenges relating to productivity and meaningful relationship building in business.  
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Former SNC-Lavalin CEO

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Graham Hughes / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Pierre Duhaime leaves SQ headquarters in Montreal on Wednesday, November 28, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes.

By: The Canadian Press, Published on Mon Feb 11 2013

MONTREAL—Pierre Duhaime, the former chief executive of Canada’s biggest engineering firm, has been granted more flexibility to travel within the country pending trial on fraud charges.

Duhaime, a prominent Quebec businessman and once the head of engineering powerhouse SNC-Lavalin, was formally charged with fraud on Monday. He was not in the courtroom as his lawyer, Michel Massicotte, pleaded not guilty on his behalf. A change was made to conditions surrounding Duhaime’s release. Initially, he was forbidden from leaving Quebec. The Crown has now agreed he can travel elsewhere in Canada — but not go beyond its borders.

Read more via @TorontoStar

 This information and content is the  property of  the Toronto Star.

The Canadian Home of The Future

Efficient energy , sometimes simply called energy efficiency, is the goal of efforts to reduce the amount of energy required to provide products and services. Energy efficiency and renewable energy are said to be the “twin pillars” of a sustainable energy policy. Both strategies must be developed concurrently in order to stabilize and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Efficient energy use is essential to slowing the energy demand growth so that rising clean energy supplies can make deep cuts in fossil fuel use. If energy use grows too rapidly, renewable energy development will chase a receding target. Likewise, unless clean energy supplies come online rapidly, slowing demand growth will only begin to reduce total carbon emissions; a reduction in the carbon content of energy sources is also needed. A sustainable energy economy thus requires major commitments to both efficiency and renewables.[29]

Content via @Wikipedia

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The Politics of Principle

The Politics of Principlepolitics of principle

A comprehensive biography of former premier and current senator, Catherine Callbeck, was released in November. Written by Island historian and political scientist, Wayne MacKinnon, the book, entitled, The Politics of Principle, details Callbeck’s career from her first public involvement as a volunteer in her local community, through her groundbreaking election as Canada’s first elected female premier and subsequent service in the Senate of Canada.

While Callbeck’s public persona over the past 35 years is well-known, this detailed biography examines her early life and discusses the family and community influences which instilled the values which she carried throughout her political career.

via @Buzzon.com

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Milton Friedman: Is Capitalism Humane?

Lecture 

Famous Milton Friedman Quotes

I am in favor of cutting taxes under any circumstance and for any excuse, for any reason, whenever it’s possible. – Interview With John Hawkins regarding Bush Tax Cuts

When everybody owns something, nobody owns it, and nobody has a direct interest in maintaining or improving its condition. That is why buildings in the Soviet Union — like public housing in the United states — look decrepit within a year or two of their construction. – Free to Choose: A Personal Statement.

[youtube_sc url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHPI1emZFVg”]

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Milton Friedman: “Capitalism and Freedom”

Rights of Workers (Q&A)

“I’m not a Conservative, a conservative is someone who wants to keep things the same as they are, I am a liberal in the truest essence of the word. The modern liberal is only liberal with other people’s money. The word liberal, means oven pertaining to freedom, a true liberal is somebody who believes in freedom.” –  Milton Friedman

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