A more recent survey of the financing needs of small and medium-sized enterprises found similarly positive views of the Fonds de solidarité as an essential pillar in the financial system of Québec. Perhaps naturally, the best reviews came from businesspeople that had direct interaction and experience with the fund.^{Endnote 68}

One of the reasons for this trend probably is that the Fonds de solidarité has taken pains to invite senior Québec business and financial leaders to participate meaningfully in its investment decision-making process. Constituency representatives sit on the board of directors and on a variety of other deliberative bodies. Significantly, original FTQ presentation of its Fonds de solidarité idea happened at the Sommet du Québec in 1982 where business, government and labour met to discuss new measures for dealing with the economic recession and its aftermath (including those that might improve the industrial relations climate).

Encouraging the input and involvement of these constituencies is a common practice for other labour-sponsored funds as well. Like the Fonds de solidarité, Working Ventures has reserved seats on its board of directors and committees for such representatives (which are recruited through a search process initiated by the CFL). In another illustration, Working Opportunity and the Crocus Fund have convened permanent advisory committees of senior business and financial leaders in British Columbia and Manitoba, respectively. These individuals provide ongoing commentary and recommendations to fund directors and officers on pending investments and policy issues.

Another reason for the gradual acceptance of the funds in the Canadian private sector may be the that the former actively promotes joint action and co-operation between managers and workers at the level of the investee company as well as in other contexts, as discussed. Some funds also bring these actors together in forums for the development of investment programs and services. The province-wide forums of the Fonds de solidarité to develop long-term market strategies for selected industries are an example.

Equally noteworthy are those circumstances in which business and finance have actually assisted inception of a labour-sponsored fund. For instance, the Manitoba Credit Union Central has made an institutional investment in support of capitalization of the Crocus Fund.

Labour-sponsored funds have attracted international attention for this feature alone. Legislators and labour movements in the United States and European countries (and through international organizations, such as the ICFTU) are currently observing the Canadian funds as novel approaches to bipartism and tripartism due to government's partnership role in giving them legal status, guidance and monetary aid - in the realm of national investment decision-making.^{Endnote 69}