Quebec has passed its bill eliminating disparities in pension and supplementary group benefits plans. The bill was passed on Tuesday with a number of additions to the province’s labour standards, including the following paragraph: “Any distinction made solely on the basis of a hiring date, in relation to pension plans or other employee benefits, that affects employees performing […]
Alongside its financial impact, extreme weather takes a toll on absenteeism, mental health and disability claims, according to a new study by the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation at the University of Waterloo. The research, funded by Manulife Financial Corp. and Intact Financial Corp., looked at homeowners in Burlington, Ont., after a storm in August 2014 left […]
SSQ Life Insurance Co. Inc. is partnering with genetic testing company BiogeniQ Inc. to offer some plan members suffering from depression the chance to undergo testing aimed at identifying the appropriate treatment. Following the testing, which will be available to some SSQ plan members on disability leave for depression, a physician will use the information to […]
Cubic Health Inc. has introduced a risk management program aimed at helping plan sponsors with the many considerations for covering medical marijuana in their benefits plans. The program uses claims data from the past two or three years to provide evidence-based education that’s tailored to a plan sponsor’s industry and workforce. It also includes a tailored risk assessment for each benefits plan that […]
While a recent court ruling has given some relief to plan sponsors concerned about having an obligation cover medical marijuana under their benefits plans, they still face a number of questions with legalization of the recreational version of the drug coming fast. That was a key message from Loretta Bouwmeester, a partner at Mathews Dinsdale […]
When Ontario abolished mandatory retirement in 2006, employers could still terminate benefits for workers who turned 65. But in May, the province’s Human Rights Tribunal determined the provision in the Human Rights Code that allowed employers to do so was unconstitutional. Previously, employers often offered benefits to older workers to encourage them to stay and […]
Green Shield Canada and Morneau Shepell Inc. are both making web-based cognitive behavioural therapy available to plan sponsors and members. Green Shield Canada’s service, provided by MindBeacon Software Inc., will be available Aug. 1. It allows plan members aged 16 and over with a mental illness unlimited access to an online therapist for up to 12 weeks […]
The Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association is tweaking its approach to its compensation disclosure guideline, including a provision to allow advisors to deliver the information to clients. After releasing the guideline in January, the CLHIA announced in February that it would be seeking feedback on a number of areas related to the guideline. While the […]
Despite not yet announcing its election platform, Ontario’s Progressive Conservative Party may have the greatest potential for affecting pensions and benefits in Ontario. “The Conservatives’ broad focus on balancing the budget, which may result in their rationalizing OHIP and delisting some services, represents the real impact potential in this election,” says Anneliesje Warner, a health […]
More than 85 per cent of Canadian organizations offer flexible working options to employees, according to a new survey by the Conference Board of Canada. The survey, which questioned more than 320 employers, found that among those that provide such arrangements, flexible hours (93 per cent) is the most commonly offered option, followed by part-time remote work (55 […]