Ontario Liberal leadership contender Steven Del Duca is proposing the creation of a basic group benefits package for workers in the province who are currently without one. As part of his so-called Economic Dignity Charter, the former Member of Provincial Parliament for Vaughan promised to create a portable, government-backed benefits program for the self-employed, contract employees and people […]
Jordan Fremont is relocating his pension, benefits and executive compensation practice to Bennett Jones LLP. For the past 15 years, he’s practiced at Hicks Morley Hamilton Storey Stewart LLP, most recently as a partner. In his work, he provides employers, plan administrators and service providers with strategic and practical advice on matters involving plan design, compliance, governance, […]
As plan sponsors continue to look for ways to control drug plan spending, a new study from the University of British Columbia shows that switching from an open to a closed formulary can save big dollars. The study, published this month in the Canadian Medical Association Journal Open, analyzed what happened when the B.C. Hospital […]
Buck is launching a three-part digital human resources product that aims to help employers create a consolidated experience for their plan members, drive behavioural change and raise employee satisfaction while creating a healthier employee population and increased productivity. “A more personalized employee experience combined with advanced analytics and decisioning tools are critical to the success […]
On Friday, the federal government announced the final amendments to the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board regulations, estimating the reforms will save Canadians about $13 billion in the next decade and lay the foundation for national pharmacare. The amendments, which were put forward by the government in a consultation in May 2017, include an update […]
The union hoping to represent Foodora Inc.’s Toronto couriers has filed an unfair labour practice complaint with the Ontario Labour Relations Board, alleging the company is attempting to scare couriers into voting against unionization. Couriers are set to vote on whether to join the Canadian Union of Postal Workers on Friday. In a press release, the […]
Morneau Shepell Inc. has closed the previously announced acquisition of Mercer’s stand-alone, large market health and defined benefit pension plan administration business in the U.S. “We are pleased to welcome the very talented employees joining us with this acquisition and our new clients that we look forward to supporting and bringing exceptional service to their […]
Prince Edward Island has added six new drugs to the provincial formulary. People dealing with arthritis, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, heart failure and those receiving radiation therapy will now have help in paying for prescription medications. The promise to help provide better access to medications was made in the 2019-20 provincial budget […]
Employees at Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corp. are giving Unifor’s bargaining team a strong mandate to take strike action, if necessary, in the quest for a fair contract. The provisions of the contract include mental-health days, domestic violence leave and part-time hours, says Dan Bailey, national representative for Unifor. “We’re focusing in on mental health in the workplace, […]
Quebec’s universal pharmacare program offers better drug coverage and quicker approval for new drugs coming to market than the rest of Canada, according to a new study by the Fraser Institute. Looking at drugs approved by Health Canada between 2008 and 2017, the report found Quebec went on to cover 33.4 per cent of them, […]