The previous year was an interesting one in the world of employee benefits plans. Over the previous 12 months, employers have navigated the explosion of claims for glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist medications like Ozempic, some forward momentum on national pharmacare and some employers changed their approach to diversity, equity and inclusion policies. Here are five […]
Promoting employee financial awareness and retirement readiness amid the rising cost of living is a priority for the Canadian Public Pension Leadership Council in 2025, says Cheldon Angus, co-chair of the CPPLC and chief executive officer of the Winnipeg Civic Employees’ Benefits Program. “More and more these days, employers are prioritizing their financial literacy education for […]
While Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation is fuelling uncertainty among Canadians regarding the direction of the country, financial markets have been surprisingly resilient in reaction to the news, says Francis Gingras Roy, a senior financial advisor at Manulife Wealth Inc. He notes when Trudeau announced his resignation last Monday, the TSX ended the day pretty flat. […]
The mental health of Canadian workers has dropped below levels last seen at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, driven by a steep decline in financial wellness, according to Telus Health’s latest mental-health index. The survey, which polled more than 3,000 employees, found workers’ average mental-health score dropped from 64.4 in September to 61.3 in […]
While a third (34 per cent) of Canadians aged 18 to 34 say an inheritance from their parents is crucial to meeting their retirement goals, 31 per cent of baby boomers say they don’t expect to leave their children any money, according to a new survey by Vanguard Group Inc. The survey, which polled more […]
The keynote session at Benefits Canada’s 2024 Defined Contribution Investment Forum warned that the failure to plan for the ‘boomer bulge’ is affecting private and public pension policy. The presentation from Paul Kershaw, a policy professor at the University of British Columbia and founder of not-for-profit organization Generation Squeeze, got me thinking: if the influx […]
An article on the impact of Canadian pension income on federal and provincial tax revenues was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com this past week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the last week: 1. Canadian pension income adding $24.5BN to federal coffers in 2025: report 2. So long foosball, hello […]
The Ontario Municipal Employees’ Retirement System is reporting inflation adjustment of 2.61 per cent, providing plan members with full inflation protection in 2025. The adjustment is calculated at 100 per cent of the percentage increase in the 12-month average consumer price index for the period ending in October over the average for the same period […]
The workplace programs, tools and supports that employees value have changed over the last four years, leading many employers to pause certain office perks, such as table football or fancy coffee bars, to focus on offerings that can make a difference in employees’ everyday lives. “While no one can say employees won’t enjoy a foosball […]
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. On Oct. 3 at the Omni King Edward Hotel in Toronto, the 2024 DC Investment Forum highlighted the various tools and strategies that can help plan sponsors navigate turbulent economic waters […]