In response to the impending oil crash of 2014, the BCGEU moved the funds invested by the union defense fund into a fund directly controlled by the union. With the power to make decisions over where money was invested, also came the ability to engage more directly in the companies the union is invested in. This was the birth of the BCGEU Capital Stewardship program.
What started with an initial divestment from fossil fuels, has transformed into a Canada-leading investment portfolio that is responsible not only for making strong returns for members, but that also takes direct responsibility for the actions and inactions of the companies that BCGEU members' money is invested in.