An article on the FIRE — financial independence and retiring early — concept was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com over the last week. Here are the five most popular news stories of the week: 1. Is the concept of financial independence and early retirement truly feasible? 2. Expert panel: Can pension administrators deny benefits to plan members who don’t […]
The increasing use of high-cost medicines is the primary cost driver for all Canadian drug plans, according to a new report by the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board. It found drug costs for public plans rose by 5.3 per cent in 2019/20, with high-cost medicines accounting for 6.3 per cent of the increase. Among private […]
Three-quarters (75 per cent) of institutional investors say their alternative asset managers are either meeting or exceeding performance expectations in 2022 despite operating in a challenging and volatile market period, according to a survey by EY. The survey, which polled 114 hedge fund managers, 112 private equity firms and 61 institutional investors, found 50 per […]
The Investment Management Corp. of Ontario is revealing interim carbon reduction targets for 2030. The investment organization is planning to halve its $79 billion portfolio’s scope 1 and scope 2 emissions from 2019 levels by 2030. It’s also aiming for investments in climate solutions to account for 20 per cent of its assets by the […]
Two-fifths (41 per cent) of U.S. women say they expect to retire at age 70 or older or don’t plan to retire at all, according to a survey by the Harris Poll on behalf of the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies. Among women who plan to work past age 65 or who don’t plan to retire, […]
Nine Canadian public sector pension plans are passively invested in companies with evidenced involvement in the persecution of Uyghurs in China, according to a new report by U.K. think tank Hong Kong Watch. The report includes three federal and six provincial pension investment organizations — among more than 30 global institutional investors — as passive investors […]
The Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario has released its final pension deregistration guidance, which identifies the documents, information and timeframes that are required under exemptions from the Pension Benefits Act to avoid a plan’s deregistration under the Income Tax Act. Maintaining ITA registration will permit the pension plan and its members to continue to […]
Developmental service workers across the Greater Toronto Area are exercising their right to strike after their union — the Service Employees International Union Healthcare — was unsuccessful in securing paid sick days and better wages for employees. The employees, who work for Kerry’s Place, a service provider for families with children, adolescents and adults with autism […]
While 80 per cent of U.S. employees view mental-health coverage as critical, only 61 per cent have access to mental-health care as part of their benefits package, according to a new survey by Aflac Inc. The survey, which polled more than 2,000 employees and 1,200 employers in the U.S., found more than half (59 per cent) […]
More than two-thirds (68 per cent) of North American employers have a formal diversity, equity and inclusion policy or program, while 60 per cent offer employee education on DEI, according to two separate surveys by Leger Marketing Inc. on behalf of ESG Global Advisors and ACI Argyle Communications Inc. The surveys, which polled more than 70 […]