Latest news in Benefits Canada News

Former Starbucks Canada employee suing for unpaid OT on behalf of store managers

A former Starbucks Canada employee is suing the company for unpaid overtime for himself and other store managers. Trevor Hopman is the lead plaintiff in…

UTAM receives high scores in UN’s principles for responsible investing

UTAM receives high scores in UN’s principles for responsible investing

The University of Toronto Asset Management Corp. has received its highest scores in the United Nations’ principles for responsible investing’s annual assessment of its approach…

  • By: Staff
  • August 12, 2020 November 12, 2020
  • 15:15
Rare disease drugs strategy, standard coverage in CLHIA’s 2020 budget wish list

Rare disease drugs strategy, standard coverage in CLHIA’s 2020 budget wish list

The Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association is recommending the federal government develop a strategy for high-cost drugs for rare diseases, potentially by harmonizing catastrophic drug coverage…

  • By: Staff
  • August 12, 2020 November 12, 2020
  • 15:00
Private equity has potential to boost DC plan investments

Private equity has potential to boost DC plan investments

Much debate remains as to whether private equity is an appropriate option for members of capital accumulation plans. Canada’s neighbours to the south have been…

  • By: Staff
  • August 12, 2020 November 30, 2020
  • 09:30
Yes, Canadian pension plans actually do outperform their global peers: study

Yes, Canadian pension plans actually do outperform their global peers: study

While Canadian pension plans hold a quiet confidence, it turns out they actually do outperform their international peers when it comes to asset performance and…

  • By: Staff
  • August 12, 2020 November 12, 2020
  • 09:15

Starbucks launching digital wellness app for staff, family members

Starbucks Canada is partnering with Morneau Shepell Ltd. to make LifeWorks available to all 24,000 Canadian employees and their family members. The digital wellness platform and…

  • By: Staff
  • August 12, 2020 November 24, 2020
  • 08:45

Canada sets temporary minimum unemployment rate for EI

The federal government is setting a temporary minimum unemployment rate of 13.1 per cent for all employment insurance economic regions across Canada. The move, which took effect…

OMERS leading funding round for U.S. online learning company

OMERS leading funding round for U.S. online learning company

The Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System’s growth equity arm is leading a $66 million Series D funding round for American online learning company Skillshare Inc.…

  • By: Staff
  • August 11, 2020 November 12, 2020
  • 15:15

EQ Care partnering with RWAM for virtual health-care services

EQ Care is forming a partnership with RWAM Insurance Administrators Inc. with the aim of facilitating access to virtual health-care services. RWAM, a Canadian third-party…

  • By: Staff
  • August 11, 2020 November 24, 2020
  • 09:00
AIMA Canada forming new executive committee

AIMA Canada forming new executive committee

The Canadian chapter of the Alternative Investment Management Association is forming its new 2020-22 executive committee. Belle Kaura, vice-president of legal and chief compliance officer…

  • By: Staff
  • August 11, 2020 November 11, 2020
  • 08:45
U.S. shopping centres substantial headwind for Caisse in first half of 2020

U.S. shopping centres substantial headwind for Caisse in first half of 2020

The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec had a challenging first half of 2020, posting a negative 2.3 per cent return. However, the pension fund…

  • By: Staff
  • August 10, 2020 November 12, 2020
  • 15:30

B.C. employer’s health tax to impact employees, says study

British Columbia’s new health tax will cost the average worker nearly $3,000 a year in foregone wages, according to a new study released by the…

  • By: Staff
  • August 10, 2020 November 24, 2020
  • 15:15
IMCO invests in affordable housing, logistics, power markets

IMCO invests in affordable housing, logistics, power markets

The Investment Management Corp. of Ontario is investing in an affordable housing fund to build apartments in Toronto and Vancouver. The IMCO is committing $60 million…

  • By: Staff
  • August 10, 2020 November 12, 2020
  • 15:00
Return some excess drug revenues to employers, CLHIA says in submission to PMPRB

Return some excess drug revenues to employers, CLHIA says in submission to PMPRB

In its submission to the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board’s draft guidelines, the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association is suggesting that the board consider…

  • By: Staff
  • August 10, 2020 November 30, 2020
  • 09:30
Employees suffering from financial stress benefit from multi-channel education: report

Employees suffering from financial stress benefit from multi-channel education: report

With financial worries swirling through the minds of many employees as the economic impacts of the pandemic rage, some segments of employee populations may be feeling…

  • By: Staff
  • August 10, 2020 February 23, 2021
  • 09:00
EQ Care, myHSA enter agreement expanding access to telemedicine

EQ Care, myHSA enter agreement expanding access to telemedicine

Digital benefits company myHSA and virtual health-care organization EQ Care are entering into an agreement to expand access to telemedicine. Through the agreement, EQ Care…

  • By: Staff
  • August 7, 2020 November 12, 2020
  • 15:45
Ontario Teachers’ investing in U.S. video games developer

Ontario Teachers’ investing in U.S. video games developer

The Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan is taking part in a US$1.78-billion financing round for Epic Games Inc., a U.S. video game and software developer. In…

  • By: Staff
  • August 7, 2020 November 12, 2020
  • 14:00
From hiring to mentoring: Fighting bias is good for business

From hiring to mentoring: Fighting bias is good for business

Cognitive bias exists in the very fabric of the business world and is a key element holding back its progress, according to Sudhir Roc-Sennett, head of thought…

Mental health firmly in the spotlight due to impacts of coronavirus, says report

Mental health firmly in the spotlight due to impacts of coronavirus, says report

Canada could experience a 2.6-fold increase in visits to mental-health practitioners and up to a 20 per cent increase in antidepressant prescriptions due to the…

North American investors closer to falling in line with global counterparts on ESG: survey

North American investors closer to falling in line with global counterparts on ESG: survey

North American institutional investors are catching up to other global regions in their interest in sustainable investing, according to a new survey by FTSE Russell. Nearly…

  • By: Staff
  • August 6, 2020 November 12, 2020
  • 09:45
Ontario pledges help for ‘overworked,’ ‘underpaid’ personal support workers

Ontario pledges help for ‘overworked,’ ‘underpaid’ personal support workers

Ontario’s overworked and underpaid personal support workers will soon be receiving government assistance, the province’s premier said Thursday as he heaped praise on a group…

Index shows coronavirus, response to racism affecting Canadians’ mental health

The ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic, coupled with the increased awareness and societal response to anti-Black racism, is continuing to affect Canadians’ mental health,…

  • By: Staff
  • August 6, 2020 July 19, 2022
  • 09:00
Majority of employers expecting to bring back furloughed workers by Q1 2021, finds survey

Majority of employers expecting to bring back furloughed workers by Q1 2021, finds survey

While a majority (55 per cent) of North American employers said they expect most of their furloughed workers will return to work by the first quarter…

  • By: Staff
  • August 5, 2020 November 12, 2020
  • 15:30

Government calling for employers to join EI commission

The federal government is seeking applicants for the positions of commissioner for employers and commissioner for workers in its Canada Employment Insurance Commission. The commissioners…

  • By: Staff
  • August 5, 2020 November 12, 2020
  • 15:15
Manulife sending employees’ kids to virtual camp

Manulife sending employees’ kids to virtual camp

The children of Manulife Financial Corp. employees can take a virtual visit to the International Space Station, create their own ice cream in a bag…