Home Blake Wolfe

How CAPSA’s fee transparency guidance is impacting plan sponsors

The Canadian Association of Pension Supervisory Authorities’ new plan sponsor guidelines surrounding investment fee transparency are a good first step, but require further development to make them more effective, says one expert. “[CAP sponsors are] still trying to understand what this [guidance] means,” says Joseph Bevilacqua, associate partner in Aon’s wealth solutions practice. “Fees can be […]

  • November 14, 2024 November 13, 2024
  • 09:00

Ross Video supporting employee mental health with virtual health-care platform

Ottawa-based Ross Video Ltd. is supporting employee mental health through a virtual health-care platform. The platform, provided by Telus Health, allows employees and their dependants to connect with mental-health professionals in real time and fills a gap in local health-care services, says Hannah Barkley, the organization’s director of human resources operations. Virtual health care also […]

  • July 12, 2023 July 12, 2023
  • 09:00

Higher long-term bond yields lowering annuity purchase costs for DB pension plan sponsors: expert

Higher long-term bond yields driven by rising interest rates are lowering the cost of annuity purchases for defined benefit pension plans, says Mary Kate Archibald, a principal at Eckler Ltd. Since January, the cost of an annuity purchase has decreased by between 10 and 15 per cent, as long-term bond yields increased from 1.7 to […]

  • June 30, 2022 June 30, 2022
  • 09:00

Quebec biosimilars policy could cut drug costs for plan sponsors: expert

Changes to Quebec’s policy on the use of biosimilars in its public drug plan could result in savings for private benefits plans, says one expert. On April 13, 2022, the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec will delist certain biologic drugs from its formulary, requiring patients covered by the plan to switch to a biosimilar […]

  • April 7, 2022 April 6, 2022
  • 09:00

Mental-health apps just one part of support, treatment process

While mental-health apps play an important role in employee benefits offerings, employers must remember apps are the gateway to treatment and not the treatment itself, says the co-author of a new study by the Workplace Safety & Prevention Services. “Don’t outsource your mental-health problems and think digital solutions alone are a panacea, just because it’s […]

  • March 29, 2022 March 28, 2022
  • 09:00

Rio Tinto providing all employees with 18 weeks of paid parental leave

Rio Tinto Group is making parental leave more accessible for employees by removing the distinction between primary and secondary caregivers. The policy change — which takes effect in Canada in June and will be implemented worldwide by the end of 2023 — provides all new parents with 18 weeks of 100 per cent paid parental […]

  • March 24, 2022 March 23, 2022
  • 09:00

Molson Coors offering gender affirmation coverage to Canadian employees

Molson Coors Beverage Co. is offering gender affirmation coverage to its Canadian employees as part of a wider effort to address and enhance diversity, equity and inclusion at the company. “We have a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and one of our key values is putting people first — this was just another step […]

  • March 7, 2022 March 4, 2022
  • 09:00

Canadians need $1.4M to retire comfortably at 65: report

The average 45-year-old Canadian employee earning $60,000 per year will need to accumulate $1.4 million in retirement savings by age 65 if they want to retire comfortably, according to a new report by Aon. It found since 2019, the average employee requires an additional $100,000 in private retirement savings, partly due to a one per […]

  • March 4, 2022 March 3, 2022
  • 09:00

Lululemon aiming to train all employees in mental-health first aid

Lululemon Athletica Inc. is offering mental-health first-aid training to all employees, with a goal of training all of its workers by 2023. While the training isn’t mandatory, more than 300 employees have already completed the program, said Angela Wright, vice-president of health and wealth and organization planning at Lululemon, in an emailed statement to Benefits Canada. […]

  • March 3, 2022 March 2, 2022
  • 09:00

Thomson Reuters offering workplace flexibility, enhanced paid leave

Thomson Reuters Corp. is providing employees with additional flexibility and paid leave to further support well-being and work-life balance. The media company is allowing employees to work from anywhere within their country of residence for up to eight weeks. In addition, employees can now take up to 10 paid days of caregiver leave, while bereavement […]

  • February 18, 2022 February 20, 2022
  • 09:00