Defined contribution pensions are taking a bumpy ride in the coronavirus pandemic, with plan sponsors and their members facing volatile stock markets, financial uncertainty and interruptions to business as usual. Whether related to plan design, investment options, decumulation or overall financial well-being and education, what issues are taking the spotlight this year and what changes […]
Over the last 20 years, managing a pension plan has looked a little like riding a roller coaster — with the 2001 technology bubble, 2008/09 financial crisis and the recent coronavirus market volatility providing sudden, gut-wrenching drops that can draw a scream from even the heartiest of souls. “From an investment standpoint, we’ve been in […]
When the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association rolled out its proposed compensation disclosure guideline in January 2018, it quickly inflamed tensions with group benefits and retirement advisors. The guideline, G19, stipulated that all of the CLHIA’s insurer members begin disclosing to plan sponsors the fees, commissions and bonuses they paid to advisors. Facing backlash […]
The Canadian Investment Review launched the first annual Pension Leadership Awards in 2020 to recognize and award leading plan sponsors across several categories who are on the leading edge of pension investments. Over the past few months, a panel of expert judges has reviewed the nominations. We are pleased to announce the finalists for this […]
For the first time, organizations are publicly endorsing the Canadian Coalition for Good Governance’s stewardship principles. To date, the endorsers include the Alberta Investment Management Corp., the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, the Canada Post Corp. pension plan, the Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology pension plan, the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan, […]
Quebec is one step closer to allowing employers to introduce target-benefit pension plans. On Wednesday, Eric Girard, Quebec’s minister of finance, tabled Bill 68, which was initially introduced in November 2019. The bill draws inspiration from a report by the expert panel on the future of the Quebec retirement system, which was published in 2013. “Quebec […]
The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and multi-stage investment firm S2G Ventures are creating a co-investment partnership whereby the Caisse will invest up to US$125 million over the next three years in ventures that aim to make the food and agriculture industry more sustainable and climate friendly. “By enabling investments in ventures and […]
The government of Ontario is providing employers with the option to defer contributions to certain defined benefit pension plans to help with their organization’s cash flow during the coronavirus pandemic while providing safeguards for funding plan member benefits. The province has amended its Pension Benefits Act to allow for the temporary deferral of contributions, while the Financial Services […]
Environmental, social and governance issues are key for many Canadian pension plans, but taking meaningful action is easier said than done, especially at small and mid-sized organizations. With a team of about 30 people, the University of Toronto Asset Management Corp. managed more than $11 billion of the university’s endowment, pension plan and short-term working […]
The Financial Services Regulatory Authority is seeking stakeholder input on draft guidance on providing consent for asset transfer transactions under the Pension Benefits Act. Aiming to support predictability and transparency for defined benefit plan administrators, sponsors and members and to protect of the rights of members, the guidance sets out how the FSRA will exercise its discretion and […]