Tobacco divestment by University of Toronto

After E-BUTT's founding in January 2006, the March of that year saw the submission of a petition with over 300 students' signatures on it, along with a letter to the President of the University of Toronto, Dr. David Naylor, asking him to consider their proposal which encouraged the University of Toronto to divest (get rid of) 100% of their tobacco and tobacco related stocks and to implement a policy forbidding investments in Big Tobacco.

In response to the petition, President Naylor appointed a committee to recommend whether he should accept E-BUTT's proposal. The committee was chaired by the Vice President of Business Affairs at the University of Toronto, and comprised of five members of the University's Governing Council. In December 2006, E-BUTT presented the advisory committee with a detailed report advising them to divest. In March 2007, the advisory committee advised President Naylor to accept E-BUTT's recommendations. On March 28th, 2007, the University of Toronto became the first major university in Canada to divest from Big Tobacco (the University of Lethbridge, adopted a policy in 2006 banning investments in Big Tobacco). One month after the University of Toronto divested, McGill University followed the University of Toronto's lead and divested their tobacco stocks.

Letter from President Naylor explaining why he divested.

Divestment Report from the Advisory Committee.

E-BUTT's Report to the Advisory Committee

Divestment Kit from E-BUTT.