Latest news in Benefits Canada News

Top 5 HR, benefits, pension and investment stories of the week

An article on the Benefits Alliance’s 2025 priorities was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com this past week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits,…

  • By: Staff
  • January 31, 2025 January 30, 2025
  • 09:00

Canadian government long-term bond yields rise as feds deploy aggressive rate cuts: report

Yields for long-term Canadian government bonds rose in December on the heels of aggressive rate cuts by the Bank of Canada, according to a new…

  • By: Staff
  • January 30, 2025 January 29, 2025
  • 09:00

Coverage of the 2024 Defined Benefit Investment Forum

On Dec. 6, 2024, leaders from Canada’s defined benefit pension plan sponsor community, alongside thought leaders and investment experts, came together at the Omni King Edward…

2024 Defined Benefit Investment Forum: Canadian economy on high alert for impact of U.S. policy

The Bank of Canada will require another year of its rate-cutting cycle to absorb the number of resources in the economy that aren’t being used…

2024 DB Investment Forum: Unexplored real estate assets offer foundation for strong risk-adjusted returns

Despite the turbulent environment shaped by the coronavirus pandemic, aggressive interest rate hikes and liquidity issues, institutional investors taking a long-term perspective can uncover strong…

2024 DB Investment Forum: Macroeconomic struggles create valuation gap in closed-end fund asset class

Taking an institutional toolbox to the typically retail closed-end fund market is providing institutional investors with an entry point into an obscure asset, according to…

2024 DB Investment Forum: Housing shortage prompting crafty solutions for capital sources

While Canada needs an additional 5.8 million housing units by 2030 to restore affordability in the marketplace, the country only averages about 200,000 new housing…

2024 DB Investment Forum: Additional capital sources needed in real estate amid pullback from traditional lenders

The pullback from traditional lenders in the real estate market is poised to create a serious need for capital. “To a certain extent, banks [and…

2024 DB Investment Forum: A look behind the scenes at the Medicus Pension Plan

The limited availability of retirement income solutions is giving physicians in Canada a compelling reason to join a new multi-employer pension plan, said Simone Reitzes,…

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AIMCo cuts 19 employees, including DEI program lead

The Alberta Investment Management Corp. has laid off 19 employees and cut their positions, including the role of running its diversity, equity and inclusion program.…

Return disclosure adds complexity, cost to proposed Ontario variable life benefits: ACPM

In response to proposed legislation that would introduce the option of variable life benefits in Ontario, the Association of Canadian Pension Management is recommending against…

  • By: Staff
  • January 29, 2025 January 29, 2025
  • 09:00

A third of U.S. employers including cell, gene therapies in their benefits plan: survey

A third (33 per cent) of U.S. employers currently include cell and gene therapies in their benefits plans and 36 per cent are actively evaluating…

  • By: Staff
  • January 28, 2025 January 28, 2025
  • 14:30

Unified ‘going-concern plus’ regime, reinstating real return bonds among PIAC’s 2025 priorities

Implementation of harmonized minimum funding regulations for federally regulated defined benefit pension plans tops the Pension Investment Association of Canada’s list of advocacy priorities in…

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Wilfrid Laurier Pension Plan members consent to join UPP

Members of the Wilfrid Laurier University Pension Plan have consented to join the University Pension Plan. With member consent secured, Wilfrid Laurier will submit a…

  • By: Staff
  • January 28, 2025 January 28, 2025
  • 09:00
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Costco defends its diversity policies as other U.S. companies scale back

Costco Wholesale Corp. is pushing back on a shareholder proposal that urges the wholesale club operator to conduct an evaluation of any business risks posed…

China moves to boost languishing markets by ordering pension funds to invest more in shares

The Chinese government is trying to encourage people to spend more by ensuring that share prices will rise, ordering pensions and mutual funds to invest…

My Take: Helping employees amid rising cost of living a win-win for employers

It’s no secret that the cost of living has jumped significantly in Canada over the last five years. Between the price of groceries, mortgages/rents and…

  • By: Blake Wolfe
  • January 27, 2025 January 24, 2025
  • 09:00

Coverage of the 2024 Future of Work Summit

On Dec. 10, Benefits Canada’s 2024 Future of Work Summit brought together key industry leaders to discuss pressing human resources issues, such as attraction and retention; diversity, equity and inclusion;…

2024 Future of Work Summit: How preventative health investments can help address rates of chronic illness

Over the past 20 years, the amount Canadians spend on their personal fitness, health and wellness has more than doubled, yet they’ve experienced worse health…

2024 Future of Work Summit: Women ‘reducing hours, taking lesser roles’ to manage menopause symptoms

Women over the age of 40 represent a quarter of the Canadian working population, with those between the ages of 45 and 55 the fastest…

2024 Future of Work Summit: Employers, employees divided on return-to-work process after disability leave

Employees returning from a disability leave and their people managers have notably different perceptions about the return-to-work experience, according to recent research by Sun Life.…

2024 Future of Work Summit: Employers using workplace flexibility, benefits offerings to attract, retain talent

Two-thirds (67 per cent) of employers say there’s currently a shortage of skilled workers in their industry and 58 per cent anticipate a skilled labour…

  • By: Blake Wolfe
  • January 27, 2025 January 28, 2025
  • 07:55

2024 Future of Work Summit: The role of DEI in an evolving employee recruitment environment

A majority (65 per cent) of Canadian employers say they have or are working on implementing a diversity, equity and inclusion policy, while 44 per…

  • By: Blake Wolfe
  • January 27, 2025 January 15, 2025
  • 07:55

2024 Future of Work Summit: How Amazon’s upskilling program helps prepare employees for the future

Amazon’s Career Choice program provides employees with skills training that leads to career advancement, whether it be in their current trajectory or an entirely new…

  • By: Sadie Janes
  • January 27, 2025 January 15, 2025
  • 07:53