The Government of New Brunswick reconvened the legislative assembly to make amendments to the Pension Benefits Act that will enable retirees under the Fraser Papers’ pension plans to immediately benefit from increased pension payouts.
Ottawa plans to propose shared-risk pension plans for crown corporations and federally regulated companies, according to media reports.
When faced with issues regarding the sustainability of its DB pension plan, Saint John Energy, an electrical distribution utility servicing the City of Saint John, N.B., took an innovative approach to implement a leading-edge solution. As a result, Saint John Energy has been able to make changes to its plan design with member approval.
Pension reform in New Brunswick can be traced to two highly publicized pension plan failures, which reduced incomes substantially below the level promised by the plans. These events tangibly demonstrated the risks inherent in the current pension delivery model being followed across Canada.
Jana Steele has left Goodmans and joined Osler as a partner in its pensions and benefits department.
Shared-risk plans are gaining traction in Eastern Canada with the City of Fredericton, the latest employer to move to this pension arrangement. This move was unanimously approved by the city council on Monday, March 11, after a special meeting.
While the efforts of most provinces to stem the decline DB plans haven’t gone beyond softening some funding requirements, New Brunswick has quietly taken the bold step of introducing a new pension model.