Advisory committee will examine divestment request
February 23, 2015
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Committee members:
- David Allgood (Chair), Past Chair, Dean鈥檚 Council, Faculty of Law
- Don Raymond, Chair, Investment Committee of the Board of Trustees
- Edward Speal, Chair, Capital Assets & Finance Committee of the Board of Trustees
- Tom Harris, Vice-Principal (Advancement)
- Tuba Chishti, Student Senator and Chair, AMS Board of Directors
- Warren Mabee, Canada Research Chair in Renewable Energy Development and Implementation
- Carol Ann Budd, Member of University Council
- Pascale Champagne, Canada Research Chair in Bioresources Engineering
- Caroline Davis, Vice-Principal (Finance and Administration)
- Michael Fraser, Vice-Principal (University Relations)
- Brian O鈥橬eill, Director, Investment Services
- Donna Janiec, Associate Vice-Principal, Finance
- Mary-Rose LaLande (Secretary)
Principal Daniel Woolf has struck an Advisory Committee on Divestment of Fossil Fuels to examine a request from a student group, Queen鈥檚 Backing Action on Climate Change (QBACC), that would see the university divest its non-pension investments from companies engaged in fossil fuel extraction or distribution.
The university鈥檚 Board-approved , which lays out a process for considering divestment requests, requires the Principal to strike an advisory committee when such a request is accompanied by a petition with at least 200 signatures from the Queen's community.
鈥淚 realize that there are strongly held views on both sides of the divestment debate, and I have asked the advisory committee to consult broadly within the university community,鈥 says Principal Woolf. 鈥淭he committee will also gather information from other universities that have considered divestment requests and will report back to me with their recommendations on what action, if any, should be taken.鈥
The advisory committee, which has just begun its work, includes representation from students, faculty, alumni, the university鈥檚 administration, University Council, and the Board of Trustees. A webpage will soon be created to provide the Queen鈥檚 community with further information about the committee and the process now underway, as well as opportunities for individuals and groups to comment on the issue.
Once the advisory committee concludes its work, the principal will take its recommendations to the Investment Committee of the Board of Trustees, which will make a final decision in accordance with the Statement on Responsible Investing and the .
For more information visit the .