Created in 1983, Fonds de solidarité FTQ is a Canadian development capital fund that calls upon the solidarity and savings of Quebecers to help fulfil its mission to contribute to Québec's economic growth by creating, maintaining and protecting jobs through investments in small and medium-sized businesses in all spheres of activity. The Fonds also seeks to encourage Quebecers to save for retirement and strives to offer its roughly 700,000 shareholders-savers a reasonable return, which adds to the tax benefits they receive by purchasing Fonds shares. The Fonds was created on the initiative of the Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec (FTQ), the province’s largest central labour body.
Ever since its inception, the Fonds has incorporated extra-financial considerations into its investment analysis and decision-making processes. More particularly, the Fonds has been at the forefront of the responsible investment movement, performing social audits as part of its due diligence process for all investments made in companies based in Quebec.
Aside from investing capital, the Fonds is also committed to supporting the growth of its partner companies by offering value-added services such as economic education.
Its fiscal year runs from June 1 to May 31. As of May 31, 2019, the Fond had assets under management totalling CAN$15.7 billion, and was invested in 3,126 partner companies, mostly SMEs.