OTTAWA – NDP Leader Jack Layton today welcomed a statement of support from Canada’s leading social investment organizations for the NDP’s recent efforts to re-draft the government’s Clean Air Act.

“I am pleased with the support we have been receiving from everyday Canadians, as well as today from the social investment community for what we are doing to make a cleaner environment in our lifetime,” said Layton. “Not only is real and immediate action on the environment good for our health, it is also good for our economic progress and prosperity.”

In their open letter, representatives of the investment community say: “The decision to amend the Clean Air Act in the House of Commons presents an historic opportunity for Canada to show the world how a country can come to grips with the issue of climate change. On behalf of the tens of thousands of investors we serve, we urge you to seize this moment to take decisive action on this monumental challenge facing humankind.”

The open letter to Layton and all party leaders was signed by Don Rolfe, CEO of The Ethical Funds Company; Kerry Ho, CEO of Inhance Investment Management Inc.; Gary Hawton, CEO of Meritas Mutual Funds; and Eugene Ellmen, Executive Director of the Social Investment Organization, the Canadian Association of Social Responsible Investment.

The Ethical Funds Company; Inhance Investment Management Inc and Meritas Mutual Funds combined, manage over $2 billion in holdings.

The open letter can be found here:
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/November2006/16/c5416.html