The TD bank is involved with all sorts of unsavory
characters. Of particular interest to animal rights activists
is the link between TD and HLS, Huntingdon Life Sciences
Check out these webs sites.
Forest Action Network www.vivisectioninfo.org/HLS Chairman and CEO
Toronto Dominion Bank
Toronto Dominion Centre
Toronto ON M5K 1A2
Dear Chairman Baillie:
As the CEO of one of Canada's leading companies
you undoubtedly understand the importance of maintaining
a good public reputation. Public perception must be
especially important in a business sector like banking.
Therefore, I was astonished when I recently received a
package from the Forest Action Network which outlined in
detail the many cases of the TD bank investing and lending
money to companies with destructive, dishonest and horrendous
business practices. Among TDs less than stellar partners are
West Fraser and Interfor which are leading the way in the
destruction of BC's rainforests, Talisman which has
contributed indirectly to massive human right violations
in the Sudan, and Pfizer whose pricing practices in Africa
have cost many lives.
But amid the long list of ugly customers associated
with TD one in particular stood out, Huntingdon Life Sciences.
This is a company infamous for its animal testing and the
subject of boycotts in the UK and US. Through investments
in the Bank of New York and the Bank of America the TD
is contributing to the needless pain, torture and death of
thousands of animals every year.
A company as big and influential as the TD is surely
not afraid of letting its lending and investment partners
know that it disapproves of certain practices. I urge you
to do so, to examine the ethical and moral suitability of
your partners and should they be found wanting I further
urge you to cease dealing with them. You wouldn't lend money
to a drug dealer on the street corner so why deal with the
corporate equivalent.br>
I hope you will give serious consideration to this matter.
Banks, no matter how large, cannot exist without the savings
of the many and without a good corporate image you will find
it difficult to attract and keep the patronage of the many
individuals like me who place our money with you. I hope to
see you in Halifax, at the AGM, where we might have a chance
to discuss these issues.
Sincerely,
