Pension spending alone supported more than 41,000 jobs across Alberta and contributed more than $4.4 billion to the province’s gross domestic product in 2021, according to a new report by the Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis. This is equivalent to $14.40 of GDP for every $10 of retirement benefit payments received in 2021. The report […]
New Brunswick is amending its Pension Benefits Act to allow for enhanced communications with plan members, exempt compulsory membership for religious beliefs and allow for reserve accounts and the statutory discharge of annuity buyouts. The amendments will also provide the Financial and Consumer Services Commission with the authority to address overpayment errors and grant rule-making, according to […]
An article on a ruling against the Blue Cross Life Insurance Co. of Canada and how it could affect long-term disability premiums was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com over the last week. Here are the five most popular news stories of the week: 1. Ruling against Blue Cross Life Insurance could affect LTD premiums: lawyer 2. Brown and […]
Canada’s defined benefit pension plans saw median returns of negative 7.33 per cent in the second quarter of 2022, according to the BNY Mellon Canadian master trust universe. It found the one-year median return as of June 30, 2022 was negative 8.25 per cent, while the median 10-year annualized return was 7.45 per cent. Among […]
Banks must provide institutional investors with more information on climate strategies, according to the head of an organization of European pension funds and asset managers seeking to curb carbon emissions. “For investors considering their own net-zero alignment and stewardship of portfolio companies, it is critical that they have sufficient information on companies’ transition planning, including […]
The U.K. government is proposing new rules requiring defined benefit pension plan sponsors to provide regulators with a summary of their investment strategies. Under the proposed rules, which were announced by the Department of Pensions and Welfare, DB plans would have to submit long-term funding and investment strategies to the U.K.’s pension regulator. The rules would […]
Canada’s defined benefit pension plan sponsors are more concerned about broad-scale climate resilience in portfolios than they were before the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new report by the Global Risk Institute and the Smart Prosperity Institute. “It’s increasingly clear that climate change’s impact is accelerating and that’s fuelling a movement toward sustainable finance,” says […]
When the Houston Firefighters Relief and Retirement Fund bought $25 million in cryptocurrencies with the fund’s chief investment officer touting their potential, retired fire Capt. Russell Harris was concerned. He was already worried about his pension after an overhaul by state and city officials cut payments as they grappled with the ability to pay out […]
Reassuring frustrated blue-collar voters, U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday visited Ohio iron workers to highlight federal action to shore up troubled pension funding for millions now on the job or retired — and to make his political case that he’s been a champion for workers in the White House. Biden’s speech at a Cleveland […]
Paramedics from 40 ambulance services across Quebec are striking to lower the required retirement age for their defined benefit pension plan and for pay equity with their emergency services colleagues. The Fédération des employés du préhospitalier du Québec union — which has nearly 2,500 pre-hospital members, including paramedics — went on strike July 1. Currently, the members’ […]