Latest news in Benefits Canada News

Survey finds institutional investors are pushing for increased automation from bond dealers

Institutional investors are looking for bond dealers to invest more in increased automation supported by more data and more application programming interfaces, according to a…

  • By: Staff
  • March 17, 2025 March 13, 2025
  • 15:00
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Communication of benefits, transparency keys to supporting employee mental-health amid tariff dispute: expert

Amid the ongoing tariff dispute between Canada and the U.S., employers can support employee mental health by reminding them of available mental-health benefits and being…

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Survey finds 85% of employers believe workplace friendships support increased employee retention

Friendship among employees can yield several benefits for employers, including supporting their attraction and retention strategies, according to a new survey by the Harris Poll…

  • By: Staff
  • March 14, 2025 March 12, 2025
  • 15:00
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OPTrust returns 9.6% in 2024, remains fully funded

The OPSEU Pension Trust is reporting a return of 9.6 per cent in 2024, according to its latest year-end report. It found, as at Dec.…

  • By: Staff
  • March 14, 2025 March 13, 2025
  • 15:00

Why you should hire an onsite counsellor

The cumulative cost of mental illness is estimated to reach $2.5 trillion by 2041, according to a report by the Centre for Addiction and Mental…

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

An article on a series of court cases dealing with remote working arrangements in Quebec was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com this past week. Here…

  • By: Staff
  • March 14, 2025 March 13, 2025
  • 09:00
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Fewer than 5% of global employers completely prohibiting remote working: survey

While more than two-thirds of global companies say they’ve implemented a formal policy requiring employees to be in the office for a minimum number of…

  • By: Staff
  • March 13, 2025 March 12, 2025
  • 15:00

HOOPP reports 9.7% return in 2024, net assets increase to $123BN

The Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan is reporting a 9.7 per cent return as at Dec. 31, 2024, with net assets increasing to $123 billion,…

  • By: Staff
  • March 13, 2025 March 12, 2025
  • 11:00

Sounding Board: The positive impact of pension plans on financial markets, society

Pension plans play an important economic role by distributing billions of dollars annually to retirees, who then spend this money in the economy while enjoying…

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Private benefits plan sponsors’ prescription drug costs up 12.9% in 2023: report

Between 2018 and 2023, prescription drug expenditures in private drug plans grew at a compound annual growth rate of 7.1 per cent, according to a…

  • By: Staff
  • March 13, 2025 March 12, 2025
  • 09:00
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Canadian government bond yields decrease in February due to U.S. tariff threat: report

Canadian government bond yields declined further in February based on the impact to growth from tariff policy from the U.S. on Canadian exports materializing, according…

  • By: Staff
  • March 12, 2025 March 12, 2025
  • 15:00

Coronavirus pandemic normalized remote work, but is it here to stay?

When the World Health Organization declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020, companies across Canada scrambled to shift their employees to home setups. For the…

How the coronavirus pandemic continues to shape benefits plans

In the five years since the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus pandemic, Canadian benefits plan sponsors have adapted their offerings and continue to apply…

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Ottawa launching $6.5 billion business aid package, EI changes amid Trump tariffs

The federal government has put together a $6.5-billion aid package and is making temporary changes to the employment insurance program to support Canadian businesses and…

Institutional investors turning to equities, global markets in 2021

Institutional investors navigating new challenges, global uncertainty in post-pandemic era

While the coronavirus pandemic is in the world’s rearview mirror, institutional investors are continuing to navigate a post-recovery period rife with uncertainty. Indeed, five years…

Rio Tinto appointing Ayman Alvi general manager, benefits

Rio Tinto Group is appointing Ayman Alvi as general manager of benefits. Alvi was previously vice-president of global pension and benefits at Scotiabank. Prior to…

  • By: Staff
  • March 10, 2025 March 7, 2025
  • 15:00

Ontario Teachers’ leads US$175M investment round for AI firm, sells seniors’ residence operator

The Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan’s venture growth arm is leading a US$175 million Series F investment round for artificial intelligence, data and analytics software company…

  • By: Staff
  • March 10, 2025 March 6, 2025
  • 15:00
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Quebec’s approach to remote workers’ rights holds lessons for other provinces: lawyer

Quebec’s approach to legislation impacting remote workers’ rights holds lessons for the rest of Canada, says Geneviève Beaudin, a Montreal-based partner in Lavery de Billy…

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WISE Trust returns 11.3% in fiscal 2024

The Workplace Insurance and Safety Employee Trust is reporting a net return of 11.3 per cent for fiscal 2024, with the WSIB Employees’ Pension Plan’s…

  • By: Staff
  • March 10, 2025 March 7, 2025
  • 09:00

Coverage of the 2025 Chronic Disease at Work conference

For the past 10 years, Benefits Canada’s Chronic Disease at Work conference has examined the current trends in chronic disease in Canada and what they mean for…

Growing share of plan members with chronic diseases experiencing multiple co-morbidities

Chronic disease rates are rising and cases are becoming more complex, with a higher share of plan members experiencing multiple co-morbidities. This growing trend necessitates…

Addressing the root cause of chronic diseases by treating obesity

Obesity is one of the most misunderstood diseases, with stigma and judgement contributing to the misconceptions, said Lisa Schaffer, executive director at Obesity Canada, during…

What plan sponsors need to know about chronic kidney disease

When a 49-year-old woman attended Dr. Phil McFarlane’s multi-care kidney clinic with polycystic kidney disease, she had multiple health issues, including chronic flank pain and…

How insulin pumps can improve insulin adherence for plan members with type one diabetes

Most people, while standing in line at a cafe, contemplate whether to get their regular drip coffee or treat themselves to a latte, and whether…

Treating early Alzheimer’s disease for optimal results and cost mitigation

Alzheimer’s disease should be an urgent health-care priority because it robs individuals of their autonomy, dignity and quality of life and takes a mental, physical…