An article on British Columbia’s paramedics and their need for enhanced mental-health benefits was the most read story over the past week on BenefitsCanada.com. Here are the five most popular news stories of the week: 1. B.C. paramedics seeking enhanced mental-health benefits 2. Canadian pension plans overcoming legislation, governance challenges: webinar 3. Ontario’s DB pension plans should take steps […]
Target-benefit plans are being hampered by a disconnect between how they’re regulated and how they’re managed, according to a new report for the C.D. Howe Institute. In the report, Barry Gros, a retired actuary and chair of the pension board at the University of British Columbia’s staff pension plan, reviewed how target-benefit plans are managed, how […]
The British Columbia Investment Management Corp. is investing in a global corporate services provider. Through the agreement, which was reached with majority investor Corsair Capital, the institutional investor will secure a minority stake in the Zedra Group. Founded in 2016, Zedra offers its clientele, which includes individuals, pension plans and corporations, a range of financial services. […]
In a move widely anticipated by the financial sector, the Bank of Canada is increasing its target for the overnight rate to 0.5 per cent. “Persistently elevated inflation is increasing the risk that longer-run inflation expectations could drift upwards,” said the bank in a press release. “The bank will use its monetary policy tools to […]
Nearly all (92 per cent) U.S. employees are in favour of a four-day workweek, citing improved mental health and increased productivity as perceived benefits, according to a new survey by software company Qualtrics. While three-quarters (74 per cent) of respondents said they’d be able to complete the same amount of work in four days, a […]
In response to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the Alberta Investment Management Corp. and the British Columbia Investment Management Corp. are divesting from Russian assets. “As Alberta’s investment manager, this decision is both values- and value-driven,” said a press release. “It reflects a change in the price of geopolitical risk and sustained impairment […]
While 82 per cent of employers globally said focusing on employee well-being is helping them combat talent scarcity, just 67 per cent of employers in Canada said the same, according to a new survey by Randstad Sourceright. The global survey, which polled more than 900 human resources and C-suite leaders across 18 countries, found 84 per cent […]
The Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System returned 15.7 per cent for 2021, a significant increase on its 2020 return. In its annual report, the OMERS said four key factors drove the outperformance relative to its benchmark, which was 6.6 per cent — its portfolio of public equities returned 20.7 per cent; its private equity businesses grew […]
Nearly two years into the coronavirus pandemic and the uncertainties brought on by the Omicron variant, markets held up in the last three months of 2021 with capital accumulation plan member outcomes continuing to improve. According to Eckler Ltd.’s latest CAP income tracker, a typical male plan member retiring at age 65 at the end of […]
While Canadians continue to use registered retirement savings plans for retirement planning, knowledge about RRSPs has declined over the past five years, according to a new survey by BMO Global Asset Management. It found 56 per cent of respondents know how much they can contribute to the account, a six per cent decrease since 2016. […]