Latest news in Governance/legislation

Public pensions stressing corporate governance, board diversity as key issues for 2018

Public pensions stressing corporate governance, board diversity as key issues for 2018

The Alberta Investment Management Corp. is emphasizing the business case for increased female participation on corporate boards. In its response to a request for comment on the…

  • By: Staff
  • April 13, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 15:00
Editorial: An interesting tax mechanism to boost DC outcomes

Editorial: An interesting tax mechanism to boost DC outcomes

At Benefits Canada’s Defined Contribution Plan Summit in Montreal in February, member engagement and communication were a clear focus of many of the presentations. Case…

Plan sponsor tools for closing the pension generation gap

When it comes to the difficult issue of equity in pension plans, Quebec has been at the forefront recently with its plan to table a…

Ontario’s new pension regulator appoints inaugural CEO

Ontario’s new pension regulator appoints inaugural CEO

Ontario’s new pension regulator, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority, has appointed Mark White as its inaugural chief executive officer, effective May 7, 2018. White is currently…

  • By: Staff
  • April 11, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 16:11
Tips for meeting CAPSA’s pension governance guidelines

Tips for meeting CAPSA’s pension governance guidelines

For any pension plan administrator looking for guidance around governance responsibilities, look no further than the Canadian Association of Pension Supervisory Authorities’ guideline No. 4. The…

Ontario proposes rules for target benefits in multi-employer plans

Ontario proposes rules for target benefits in multi-employer plans

The Ontario government has published proposed regulations relating to the funding framework for certain multi-employer pension plans seeking to convert defined benefits to target benefits.…

  • By: Staff
  • April 9, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 11:11
Stelco pension plans reach 85% funded status after $142M boost

Stelco pension plans reach 85% funded status after $142M boost

Stelco Inc’s owner paid $142 million into the company’s pension plans at the end of March, bringing them to a funded status of 85 per cent…

  • By: Staff
  • April 4, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 10:25
Have your say: Are new sick day entitlements a concern for employers?

Have your say: Are new sick day entitlements a concern for employers?

Following in the footsteps of other Canadian provinces, Quebec has introduced a bill to amend its labour laws that includes changes to sick leave entitlements. Currently, employees…

  • By: Ryan Murphy
  • April 2, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 16:15
OSFI publishes guidance on default investment options in DC pension plans

OSFI publishes guidance on default investment options in DC pension plans

The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions has published guidance on its interpretation and expectations for the default investment option selected by the administrator…

  • By: Staff
  • April 2, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 09:00
Pension and benefits highlights of the Ontario budget

Pension and benefits highlights of the Ontario budget

On Wednesday, Ontario Finance Minister Charles Sousa unveiled his 2018 budget ahead of the upcoming provincial election. Benefits Canada has narrowed down the key budget items that…

  • By: Staff
  • March 29, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 09:57
Disclosable event regime, Sears measures among pension changes in Ontario budget

Disclosable event regime, Sears measures among pension changes in Ontario budget

As part of its 2018 budget, the Ontario government unveiled a proposal to make its changes to the pension benefits guarantee fund apply retroactively to plans with a…

Unique pension arrangement at heart of Carleton University labour dispute

Unique pension arrangement at heart of Carleton University labour dispute

The dispute over pension rights at Carleton University heated up this week as the Canadian Union of Public Employees called on the Financial Services Commission of…

The pension industry’s wish list for tax reform

The pension industry’s wish list for tax reform

Over the past 25 years, Canada’s retirement system has evolved significantly through new funding frameworks and federal and provincial reforms to facilitate innovation in plan…

Ontario’s proposed DB funding rules lack solvency reserve accounts: PIAC

Ontario’s proposed DB funding rules lack solvency reserve accounts: PIAC

The Pension Investment Association of Canada is calling out Ontario’s proposed defined benefit solvency funding framework for its lack of solvency reserve account structures, a model that exists…

  • By: Staff
  • March 14, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 08:30

Western University to share insight on long-standing DC plan at Benefits and Pension Summit

Providing a defined contribution pension to employees since 1969, Western University is in a unique position to share how the landscape for these plans has evolved over time and…

Budget commits to consultations on pension security issues in wake of Sears

Budget commits to consultations on pension security issues in wake of Sears

Referring to Sears Canada Inc.’s recent pension issues, the government announced in its 2018 budget it would seek feedback from pensioners, employees and companies in the coming months…

Actuarial analysis required for Ontario’s proposed PBGF changes: CIA

Actuarial analysis required for Ontario’s proposed PBGF changes: CIA

The Canadian Institute of Actuaries is urging Ontario to take an actuarial approach to its proposed changes for the pension benefits guarantee fund. The province has proposed increasing…

  • By: Staff
  • February 23, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 16:15
Expand CPP replacement rate, create universal pharmacare, urges alternative federal budget

Expand CPP replacement rate, create universal pharmacare, urges alternative federal budget

Expand the Canada Pension Plan replacement rate to 50 per cent of earnings. Cap annual contributions to registered retirement savings plans at $22,000. Establish a public…

  • By: Staff
  • February 22, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 16:56
CPP reform to result in fewer jobs until late 2020s: report

CPP reform to result in fewer jobs until late 2020s: report

The Canada Pension Plan enhancement will cost 64,000 jobs by the time it’s fully in effect, according to a new analysis from the Canadian Federation…

  • By: Staff
  • February 21, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 16:00

Get to know Australia’s superannuation plans at the 2018 Benefits and Pension Summit

With a mature system of defined contribution pension plans, Australia offers some lessons for how Canada’s industry may evolve.  At Benefits Canada’s upcoming Benefits and Pension…

Actuaries respond to Ontario’s proposed funding rules for DB plans

Actuaries respond to Ontario’s proposed funding rules for DB plans

The Canadian Institute of Actuaries has responded to Ontario’s description of its proposed funding rules for defined benefit plans. While the provincial government’s document, published in December 2017, included details…

  • By: Staff
  • February 15, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 16:45
LiUNA pension fund suing banks over alleged rigging of currency markets

LiUNA pension fund suing banks over alleged rigging of currency markets

The Laborers’ International Union of North America pension plan is suing a number of financial institutions for allegedly conspiring to fix prices within the foreign exchange market. The…

Have your say: Is it time to address dividend payments amid pension deficits?

Have your say: Is it time to address dividend payments amid pension deficits?

A group of Sears Canada Inc. pensioners will ask the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on Thursday to appoint a litigation trustee to review certain actions leading up to…

  • By: Staff
  • February 12, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 16:00
McCarthy Tétrault names new partner in pension, benefits group

McCarthy Tétrault names new partner in pension, benefits group

Deron Waldock has joined McCarthy Tétrault LLP as a partner in its national pension, benefits and compensation group, working out of the firm’s Toronto office.…

  • By: Staff
  • February 9, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 09:04
Buy-ins and boomerangs: A look at the trends in Canada’s annuity market

Buy-ins and boomerangs: A look at the trends in Canada’s annuity market

When Loblaw Companies Ltd. purchased annuities to reduce the risk in its defined benefit pension plans in January 2017, the $350-million, inflation-linked buyout kicked off…