Earlier this week, the Bank of Canada announced it’s maintaining the target for the overnight rate at 1.75 per cent. “As expected, the Bank of Canada kept the target rate unchanged at 1.75 per cent,” said Randall Malcolm, senior managing director at Sun Life Investment Management, in a statement. “The [Bank of Canada’s] statement surprised […]
Ivanhoé Cambridge, the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec’s real estate subsidiary, is expanding its logistics investments in the U.K. through the acquisition of four development projects through its partnership with British logistics and industrial property business PLP. The four sites, which have a combined land area of more than 130 acres, are located in […]
Digital health startups Maple and Dot Health are partnering to deliver a platform with more accessible virtual health care for Canadian benefits plan members and individuals. Maple, which connects users virtually with health-care professionals, works with employers to build custom telemedicine benefits packages that suit their plan members’ needs. Dot Health allows users to gain access to […]
The Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan is launching a venture capital investment platform to support companies using technology to create new sectors or disrupt existing ones. Called the Teachers’ Innovation Platform, it will make late-stage venture capital and growth equity investments. Olivia Steedman, a founding member of the Ontario Teachers’ infrastructure and natural resources group, will head up […]
The number of people who received regular employment insurance benefits increased by 4,400 in February, a rise of one per cent since January, according to new data from Statistics Canada. Most of the increase was observed among those employed in manufacturing and utilities, which rose 4.7 per cent, while there was a smaller increase of 1.6 […]
The fourth quarter of 2018 saw the largest decline since 2011 in a retiring member’s ability to create a secure retirement income, according to a report by Eckler Ltd. At the end of 2018, replacement income for women fell to 55 per cent and for men to 56 per cent. The fourth-quarter decline is a result of steep […]
While some major investment firms have made notable positive contributions to stewardship, the industry needs to step up its game, according to a report from Willis Towers Watson. The report noted certain highly publicized efforts by asset managers aimed to raise awareness around the lack of women on corporate boards. However, overall, stewardship action accounts […]
While educational content is a key component of financial wellness programs, they must also be measurable and embrace technology to help defined contribution plan members move easily from ambition to action, according a new report by the SPARK Institute and Cerulli Associates. The report, which combined feedback from 26 U.S. record keepers representing $5.9 trillion in […]
Health Solutions by Shoppers Drug Mart is launching a health coaching program for plan sponsors to include in their benefits plans. Aimed at employees with chronic diseases, particularly diabetes, heart disease and obesity, the coaching program will connect plan members with nurses, pharmacists or dietitians through phone or video chat. These specialists will help create […]
Seventy per cent of Canadians said they think it’s important to invest in companies with strong environmental, social and governance performance, according to a new study by Mackenzie Investments. While a majority of survey respondents said they believe socially responsible investing is important, just 31 per cent hold ethical investments. Among those who don’t, one-third said they […]