With many Canadian defined benefit pension plans in a strong funded position, plan sponsors, particularly those with unionized workforces, are increasingly discussing the use of surplus funds, says Gavin Benjamin, a partner in the retirement and benefits solutions practice at Telus Health. The funded position of a typical Canadian defined benefit pension plan rose on […]
The federal government is currently seeking recommendations about its plan to introduce solvency reserve accounts for federally regulated defined benefit pension plans. Under the government’s proposed model, first announced in 2022, these accounts would be optional and constitute a separate account within a DB plan. In a press release, the government said solvency reserve accounts […]
Going through a divorce can be an extremely stressful and emotional experience and, unsurprisingly, the impacts can spill into the workplace. “[Employees may be] at work but waiting for that text from the lawyer — they’re distracted on what they’re going to do next in the proceedings,” says Brent Dul, executive vice-president at Randstad Canada. […]
An article on Citigroup Inc.’s new parental and caregiver leave programs for U.S. employees was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com this past week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the last week: 1. Citigroup enhancing parental leave, introducing caregiver leave for U.S., Puerto Rico employees 2. Caisse invests $35M in energy […]
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, […]
Argentina’s Senate defied President Javier Milei to push through an increase to pension spending that would cost at least 0.4 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product, dealing a blow to his tough austerity program. The bill, which already swept through the lower house in June, passed the Senate in a 61-8 vote. All […]
An article on why Canadian workers say job flexibility is key to satisfaction was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com this past week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the last week: 1. 70% of Canadian workers say flexibility key to job satisfaction: survey 2. Only a quarter of Canadian employees […]
Alberta’s finance and treasury board warned against releasing the official results from a government survey evaluating the interest in a new potential pension plan, according to a report by the Edmonton Journal. The survey, launched on Sept. 21, 2023, coincided with the release of a report by LifeWorks Inc. (now part of Telus Health) that argued […]
Canadian pension plans are facing unforeseen taxation of dividends in European Union countries like Germany and the Netherlands, said the Pension Investment Association of Canada. In an open letter, the PIAC said its members have endured a discriminatory dividend taxation relative to settled European tax law and the free movement of capital within the EU […]
An article on the nuances of Quebec’s pension laws was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com this past week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the last week: 1. What should employers know about Quebec’s pension legislation? 2. Ontario’s new regulations for publicly advertised jobs providing transparency for job-seekers: expert 3. Canadian […]