Over the past year, there has been a lot of movement from most of the provinces on drug pricing reforms. Last week at the two-day Benefits & Pension Summit, hosted by Benefits Canada, a panel made up of a consultant, a plan sponsor, a pharmacy benefits manager and a pharmacist weighed in on how the […]
Over the past year, there has been a lot of movement from most of the provinces on drug pricing reforms. Today at the two-day Benefits & Pension Summit, hosted by Benefits Canada, a panel made up of a consultant, a plan sponsor, a pharmacy benefits manager and a pharmacist weighed in on the impact of […]
Do cultural biases have an impact on the decisions your employees make about their retirement savings and benefits? “Of course,” says Chad Lewis, founder of Intercultural Focus, from Boston, Mass. Culture is something plan sponsors need to keep in mind not just when developing their plans, but when communicating their plans as well. Lewis, the […]
Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada has announced it will take full ownership of Buffett & Company Worksite Wellness Inc. The two organizations have been in partnership since late 2008 and this move to become one is by no means in reaction to the the recent passing of Ed Buffet, founder and CEO of Buffet & […]
Employees can finally start to breathe a bit easier. The downsizing that swept the country for the past two years has finally slowed, with most employers planning few cutbacks in 2011, according to a recent survey by Right Management. The survey took opinions of 3,000 Canadian senior executives throughout the country. When asked if they […]
Mere hours before a non-confidence vote brought down his government, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty released final amendments to the Pension and Benefits Standards Regulations, 1985 intended to strengthen the country’s federally regulated private pension system. “These changes will help pension plan sponsors to better manage their funding obligations while providing additional protection to plan members […]
Support for informal caregivers and research money were small but positive steps taken to enhance the Canadian healthcare system in the 2011 budget, but much remains to be done to affect systematic change. Access to care it a huge issue for Canadians—especially those in remote areas. Providing student loan relief for doctors and nurses who […]
Several of the stories we’ve run on BenefitsCanada.com over the past few weeks have triggered a lot of discussion. When we asked if convicted felons should receive pensions, one reader pointed out: “It is galling to see Col. William receive his pension. But, pensions are part of total compensation, and a family asset. There is […]
While Russell Williams, the convicted murderer, rapist and former Canadian Forces colonel sits in jail for the next 25 years, he will collect a $60,000 annual military pension. However, according to several media outlets, he has apparently not yet paid the $8,000 in victim surcharge fines that he owes. CTV reports that a collection agency […]
Take our poll on the issue. This week, Michael Nobrega, CEO of the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System, went on the record saying that the government should open up the administration of the new pooled registered pension plans (PRPPs) to more than just “regulated financial institutions.” “Right now, it’s insurance companies and the banks,” Nobrega […]