Latest news in Benefits Canada News

2024 Top 40 Money Managers Report: To divest or engage?

With 15 different client organizations, including nine public sector pension plans, the Alberta Investment Management Corp. has opted to engage, rather than divest, from certain…

  • By: Blake Wolfe
  • November 15, 2024 November 22, 2024
  • 08:57

How benefits plan sponsors, insurers are managing newer — and effective — GLP-1 medications

With lyrics adapted to the tune of ‘Magic’ by Scottish pop group Pilot, the melody of ‘Oh, Oh, Oh, Ozempic’ is splashed across U.S. televisions…

How Mexico’s reformed pension system is improving workers’ retirement security

Earlier this year, Mexico’s senate approved the creation of a new pension fund to help provide more retirement security for low-income citizens. The reform aims…

  • By: Sadie Janes
  • November 15, 2024 November 13, 2024
  • 08:54

The Calgary Foundation using alternatives to push beyond its comfort zone

In the years following the 2008/09 financial crisis, Dan Langlois realized the allocation strategy for the Calgary Foundation’s endowment portfolio needed a significant adjustment if…

Q&A with Hoffmann-La Roche’s Rana Kassab

The pharmaceutical company’s director of benefits and recognition discusses the needs of a multigenerational workforce, the role of diversity, equity and inclusion in benefits plans…

  • By: Blake Wolfe
  • November 15, 2024 November 13, 2024
  • 08:53
Copyright_artrachen_123RF

38% of U.S. institutional investors incorporating ESG into investment decisions: survey

Roughly two-fifths (38 per cent) of U.S. institutional investors say they incorporate environmental, social and governance factors into investment decisions, according to a new survey…

  • By: Staff
  • November 14, 2024 November 12, 2024
  • 11:00
24603574-123RF

UN’s Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance reports more institutional investors adopting intermediate decarbonization targets

The United Nations’ Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance is reporting that 81 of its institutional investor members, representing combined assets under management of US$9.4 trillion, have…

  • By: Staff
  • November 14, 2024 November 11, 2024
  • 09:00
Copyright_underworld_123RF

How CAPSA’s fee transparency guidance is impacting plan sponsors

The Canadian Association of Pension Supervisory Authorities’ new plan sponsor guidelines surrounding investment fee transparency are a good first step, but require further development to…

  • By: Blake Wolfe
  • November 14, 2024 November 13, 2024
  • 09:00
Copyright_fizkes_123RF

Ellement merging with George & Bell Consulting

Winnipeg-based Ellement Consulting Group is merging with Vancouver-based George & Bell Consulting Inc. The combined firm, which will operate under the Ellement banner effective Jan.…

  • By: Staff
  • November 13, 2024 November 11, 2024
  • 15:00
Copyright_andreypopov_123RF

Canadian employers reducing office space due to hybrid work, passing savings onto workers: survey

Nearly three-quarters (74 per cent) of Canadian employers have reduced the size of their office footprint by embracing hybrid work and allowing employees to work…

  • By: Staff
  • November 12, 2024 November 12, 2024
  • 15:00
Copyright_mouu007_123RF

Ratio of asset value to benefit obligation up 1.2% for Canadian DB pension plans in Q3 2024: report

The ratio of the market value of assets to the projected benefit obligation for a hypothetical benchmark plan changed little for global defined benefit pension…

  • By: Staff
  • November 12, 2024 November 7, 2024
  • 11:00
Copyright_jirsak_123RF

Only 16% of Canadian employers have implemented pay transparency strategy: survey

Only 16 per cent of Canadian employers have implemented a pay transparency strategy, while 41 per cent have strategies in development and 22 per cent…

  • By: Staff
  • November 12, 2024 November 8, 2024
  • 09:00
Copyright_Tinnakorn Jorruang_123RF

Canadian sustainability investment standards to launch in December

The Canadian edition of an international set of sustainability investment disclosure standards will be officially released in December, according to the Canadian Sustainability Standards Board.…

  • By: Staff
  • November 11, 2024 November 11, 2024
  • 15:00

Amazon supporting Canadian veterans through ERG, employee programs

Amazon Canada is supporting Canadian veterans through a dedicated employee resource group as well as paid leave and various veteran-specific programs. The Warriors at Amazon…

Copyright_alphaspirit_123RF

Nova Scotia to allow unlocking of pension benefits

The Nova Scotia government is updating the provincial Pension Benefits Act to allow the unlocking of pension benefits. Effective April 1, 2025, plan members aged…

  • By: Staff
  • November 11, 2024 November 8, 2024
  • 09:00
Copyright_Mikhail Tsikhanovich _123RF

Alberta government fires AIMCo CEO, board, citing rising costs and poor performance

Alberta’s finance minister has sacked the chief executive officer and entire board of directors of the Alberta Investment Management Corp., the Crown corporation that manages…

Top 5 HR, benefits, pension and investment stories of the week

An article on Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.’s win in the Health/Wellness Program category for employers with fewer than 1,000 employees at Benefits Canada’s 2024 Workplace Benefits Awards was…

  • By: Staff
  • November 8, 2024 November 7, 2024
  • 09:00

Canadian pension risk transfer sales decrease to $2.1BN in Q3 2024: report

The market volume of annuity purchases by Canadian defined benefit pension plan sponsors reached an estimated $2.1 billion in the third quarter of 2024, a…

  • By: Staff
  • November 7, 2024 November 8, 2024
  • 11:00

What could a second Trump presidency mean for Canadian institutional investors?

While an arduous U.S. presidential election cycle may have created some market volatility, any uncertainties among Canadian institutional investors may begin to wane following Donald…

What do employers need to know about monitoring employees in remote, hybrid working arrangements?

While Canadian privacy laws allow employers to track employees in a remote or hybrid working arrangement, this surveillance must be related to their job. “Employers…

Claims for fertility drugs rose 12% among female plan members over five years: report

The percentage of female benefits plan members using fertility drugs rose by roughly 12 per cent between 2019 and 2023, according to a new report…

  • By: Staff
  • November 6, 2024 November 6, 2024
  • 15:00
Copyright_milkos_123RF

CPPIB investing US$515M in gaming service provider, AIMCo acquiring U.K.-based real estate development

The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board is investing roughly US$515 million to acquire a 24.5 per cent stake in video games service provider Keywords Studios.…

  • By: Staff
  • November 6, 2024 November 5, 2024
  • 15:00

HOOPP’s focus on cross-collaboration in mental health leads to award win

The Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan’s extensive benefits coverage and focus on cross-collaboration landed the company a win in the Mental Health Program category for…

Copyright_alekstaurus_123RF

Innovative Medicines Canada calling on feds to clarify impact of pharmacare on private drug plans

Innovative Medicines Canada is calling on the federal government to introduce amendments to Bill C-64 that clarify the impact on all aspects of Canadians’ drug…

Coverage of the 2024 DC Investment Forum

The volatile global conditions of the last four years have culminated in a looming economic downturn, impacting defined contribution pension plan sponsors and members alike.…