In deciding upon specific rating criteria for the Jantzi Social Index^®, Jantzi-Sustainalytics considered several underlying questions that provided the foundation for decision making.

These questions included:

• Is each rating criterion researchable?
  
• Is each rating criterion measurable?
  
• Does the environmental, social, and governance rating framework reflect the current state of social investing in Canada?
  
• Does the rating framework reflect recent developments in socially responsible investing; in Canada and internationally?
  
• Is there a business, corporate social responsibility, and/or scientific foundation for each rating criterion?
  

With these questions in mind, Jantzi-Sustainalytics developed a rating framework for the JSI. For most issue areas, including aboriginal relations; community involvement; corporate governance; employee relations; environment; and human rights, the framework calls for a complete examination of each company's performance record in that area, as well as an evaluation of each company's record in these areas overall.

The JSI also incorporates several exclusionary indicators, which eliminate firms from contention regardless of what their record of performance may be in other areas. The JSI does not include companies that have significant involvement in:

• the production of nuclear power;
  
• the manufacture of tobacco products;
  
• weapons-related contracting.