While the Pension Investment Association of Canada is applauding proposed changes to Manitoba’s Pension Benefits Act that would allow for in-plan solvency reserve accounts for defined benefit pension plans, it’s calling on the province to make further reforms. In a letter to Manitoba’s Finance Minister Scott Fielding, the PIAC said the suggested amendments, which were introduced in November […]
West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. isn’t annuitizing multiple defined benefit plans to get out of the pension business. In fact, the British Columbia-based integrated wood products company is committed to DB. “We believe we get tremendous value out of our DB plans around recruitment and definitely around retention of our employees,” says Elaine Jensen, the […]
The first major reform to the U.S. retirement system in a decade, the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act, contains provisions that could be useful guides for Canadian legislators and regulators. Signed into law by President Donald Trump in December, the act, known as SECURE, is primarily aimed at addressing Americans’ difficulty in […]
The Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association is asking the federal government to develop a strategy for access to high-cost drugs and to make flexible annuity options available for a variety of retirement savings vehicles. In its 2020 budget submission to Finance Minister Bill Morneau, the association called for the federal government to work with provincial and territorial governments and […]
The Co-operative Superannuation Society Pension Plan is making a deal with the Co-operators Group Ltd. on a longevity insurance agreement to protect its annuity offering. “CSS is very proud to have been providing an in-plan annuity option to our members for close to 50 years,” said Martin McInnis, executive director of CSS, in a press […]
The Iron Ore Co. of Canada has purchased a $560 million group annuity buy-in that covers more than 3,700 defined benefit plan beneficiaries and current retirees. The transaction with Sun Life Financial and Morneau Shepell Ltd. represents the largest Canadian same-day deal with a single insurer, according to a press release. “We continue to see these transactions […]
North American envelope marker and marketer Supremex Inc. is purchasing a $46 million group annuity buy-in through RBC Life Insurance Co. The deal covers 361 defined benefit plan pensioners, beneficiaries and deferred vested members. It comes on the heels of an almost $7 million transaction made in June 2018 for a smaller group of members […]
North American envelope marker and marketer, Supremex Inc., is purchasing a $46 million group annuity buy-in with RBC Life Insurance Co. The deal covers 361 defined benefit plan pensioners, beneficiaries and deferred vested members. It comes on the heels of an almost $7 million transaction made in June 2018 for a smaller group of members […]
The holiday season is a time to reflect on the events of 2019 and how they may affect trends in the year to come. I predict a couple of trends on the pension landscape in 2020: much needed progress on the expansion of decumulation options and the outsourcing of the chief investment officer function. Expansion of […]
Legislative changes and plan design were among the leading topics in the pension and retirement industry in 2019, with the top three most read stories tackling those topics. Benefits Canada rounds up the industry’s favourite pension stories of the year: 1. Budget 2019: Proposed changes to pension legislation, annuities, CPP 2. DB pensions best option for Canadian employers, economy: report 3. Alberta budget includes […]