In June, the European Commission proposed a new voluntary pension aimed at helping individuals who move around the continent to save for retirement. If passed, employers, banks and insurance companies will be able to offer the portable pan-European pension to European citizens. The European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority will regulate the pension. “All in […]
Publicly traded Canadian businesses in large part lacking when it comes to reporting their relations with indigenous people, revealed a new report by the Shareholder Association for Research and Education. After reviewing the public disclosures of publicly traded companies from eight different sectors, the organization found that while many businesses produced reports on their policies, practices or […]
In a reminder to employers to be diligent about using their own disability management processes before terminating an employee, an Alberta arbitrator has ruled against a company that fired a worker suspected of being dishonest about his condition. The case, Tolko Industries Ltd. v. United Steelworkers, Local 1-207, involved a lumber mill in High Level, Alta. that […]
While investors seeking reasonable returns in a low interest rate environment will find them in U.S. treasury and corporate bonds, they should still remain cautious about inflated optimism for the economy and tight credit spreads in the fixed-income market, according to an investment expert. “Investors around the world are searching for yield. You see it […]
Canada has dropped one spot in a list of the countries that provide the best retirement security, according to the latest global retirement index by Natixis Global Asset Management. Canada holds the No. 11 spot this year compared to No. 10 on last year’s index, and trails several European countries including Norway (No. 1), Switzerland, […]
Quebec has reached an agreement with the Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association to lower drug costs by $1.5 billion over five years, thereby putting an end to the province’s plans to issue tenders for generic drugs. The new agreement will take effect on Oct. 1, 2017, with costs savings coming from price discounts and the launch […]
The Canadian Association of Pension Supervisory Authorities is asking industry stakeholders to weigh in on its proposed changes to funding and asset allocation rules for multi-jurisdictional pension plans. Read: Five provinces enter into multi-jurisdictional pension agreement CAPSA’s consultation paper aims to build an agreement that would clarify how each government’s pension legislation applies to the […]
Employees at GoodLife Fitness Centres Inc. are expressing concern after the fitness chain decided to discontinue its childcare services at three clubs in the Greater Toronto Area. Employees and gym club members have expressed disappointment by signing a petition initiated by parents and circulated by Workers United Canada, the union representing GoodLife fitness trainers in […]
How would an interest rate boost affect pension plans?
Investors will be watching closely as speculation ramps up that Canada’s central bank will raise interest rates by 25 basis points on Wednesday. A modest increase won’t lead to a significant impact on the market in the short term because it has already reacted to the expectations of rising rates in the past few weeks, […]