As gig workers make up a greater share of the Canadian workforce, a lack of retirement savings options may leave this growing demographic facing financial insecurity in their senior years. According to data from Statistics Canada, 871,000 Canadians performed gig work as their primary job in the fourth quarter of 2022. Among those gig workers, […]
The National Institute on Ageing is addressing the issue of missing pension plan members, in a new report highlighting the challenges faced by plan administrators and individuals entitled to unclaimed pension benefits. The report provides a framework for decision-making and emphasizes the importance of collaborative efforts from all sectors — government agencies, plan sponsors, financial […]
Ontario’s proposed regulatory framework for target-benefit pension plans includes requirements that are more prescriptive than other jurisdictions and could result in additional costs and reduced benefits for plan members, said the Association of Canadian Pension Management. In an open letter, the ACPM noted the inclusion of policies — such as those determining funding and benefits, […]
An article detailing a stark increase in the use of obesity medications among Canadian employer-sponsored benefits plan members was the most-read article on BenefitsCanada.com this week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the past week: 1. Claims for obesity drugs increased 42% in 2023, 92% since 2020: report 2. How […]
In its 2024-25 annual plan, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario is focusing on assessing and mitigating systemic and high-priority risks in the province’s defined benefit pension plan sector. The regulatory body will review and enhance its supervisory framework to strengthen supervision of large public sector pension plans, ensuring its plan amendments and surplus […]
Clear and flexible regulations that reflect the nature and diversity of target-benefit plans would allow these plans to thrive, according to a new report from the C.D. Howe Institute. The report analyzed data collected from 29 target-benefit plans registered in British Columbia, which was the first province to implement these plans. Read: Report finds disconnect […]
Contributions to British Columbia-based defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans increased by 10 per cent in 2022, while contributions to target-benefit plans increased by 9.4 per cent, according to the B.C. Financial Services Authority’s annual pensions report. The report, which analyzed data from more than 600 pension plans, found overall plan membership increased by […]
The Ontario government is launching an infrastructure bank that will leverage investments by public sector pension plans and other Canadian institutional investors. In its fall economic statement on Thursday, the province said it will provide $3 billion in initial funding to the Ontario Infrastructure Bank, which will support the development of new long‐term care homes, […]
Increased volatility, stubborn inflation and erratic interest rates are making for financially uncertain times, where it can be more reassuring to seek safety in shared risk, rather than shouldering financial ambiguity alone. Celebrated for their pooled assets and shared risk, multi-employer pension plans are gaining traction. Tami Dove, director of member experience at the Co-operative […]
Saskatchewan’s Public Employees Benefits Agency is transitioning to a not-for-profit corporation. The PEBA began pursuing the transition in 2021 at the request of the trustees of the two largest pension plans it administers — the Public Employees Pension Plan and the Municipal Employees Pension Plan. The not-for-profit will begin operations on Jan. 1, 2024 under the […]