Latest news in Governance/legislation

Blue Pier launches customized, outsourced workplace pension

Blue Pier launches customized, outsourced workplace pension

Blue Pier is introducing a new customized, fully outsourced workplace pension plan to encourage all employers to offer retirement savings programs to their employees. The…

  • By: Staff
  • May 28, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 15:05
Unions continue effort to convert multi-employer pension to target-benefit plan

Unions continue effort to convert multi-employer pension to target-benefit plan

As lobbying efforts intensify to keep Canadian Nuclear Laboratories’ employees in the public service pension, plans are moving ahead to convert a multi-union, multi-employer plan into a…

Ontario Liberals promise improved pension access, portability

Ontario Liberals promise improved pension access, portability

If re-elected, the Ontario Liberals are promising to expand access to workplace pension plans in the private sector, improve portability and create options for the self-employed…

  • By: Staff
  • May 25, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 09:50
Have your say: Are public sector pensions really revenue generators for governments?

Have your say: Are public sector pensions really revenue generators for governments?

Public sector pension plans often come under criticism for what some observers suggest is the high costs paid by taxpayers to fund generous benefits. A…

  • By: Staff
  • May 22, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 15:00
Are tontines a solution to Canada’s decumulation challenges?

Are tontines a solution to Canada’s decumulation challenges?

With the aging of Canada’s population, the move to defined contribution pension plans in the private sector and increases in life expectancy, the issue of…

  • May 21, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 11:38
Terms of Wabush settlement to include $18M payment towards pension shortfall

Terms of Wabush settlement to include $18M payment towards pension shortfall

The terms of a settlement for Wabush Mines’ former employees and retirees are now available, including an $18-million payment to address a $28-million pension shortfall and an…

  • By: Staff
  • May 18, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 10:08
Wabush employees, retirees to see pension increase after three-year battle

Wabush employees, retirees to see pension increase after three-year battle

Three years after Wabush Mines filed for restructuring, its former employees and retirees will see an increase to their pensions, following a previous reduction of between 21…

Have your say: Will plan sponsors embrace variable benefits from DC plans?

Have your say: Will plan sponsors embrace variable benefits from DC plans?

Earlier this month, the Pension Investment Association of Canada came out in support of Ontario’s proposed regulations for variable benefits from defined contribution pension plans.…

Pension communication errors can lead to surprise costs for plan sponsors

Pension communication errors can lead to surprise costs for plan sponsors

Pension plan sponsors can save money by ensuring their plan texts and other communications materials are free of mistakes, says Mitch Frazer, a partner and the chair…

Sears DB members facing bleak payout prospects as company reduced to ‘shell of itself’

Sears DB members facing bleak payout prospects as company reduced to ‘shell of itself’

Sears Canada Inc. pension plan members are facing bleak prospects for getting their full pension payouts, according to a Toronto bankruptcy lawyer. “They won’t be…

The shifting landscape for variable benefits from DC plans

The shifting landscape for variable benefits from DC plans

There has been a lot of talk about variable benefits from defined contribution pension plans recently. Ontario has changes in the works to allow them, while…

Top 40 Money Managers: Charting the course through choppy waters

Top 40 Money Managers: Charting the course through choppy waters

Despite significant improvements recently to pension plan solvency levels, the start of 2018 has been a challenging one for institutional investors. Shifting monetary policies have…

Ontario passes budget measures amending pension, PRPP acts

Ontario passes budget measures amending pension, PRPP acts

The Ontario government passed its 2018 budget measures on Tuesday, including amendments to the Pension Benefits Act and the Pooled Registered Pension Plans Act. The amendments…

  • By: Staff
  • May 8, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 16:30
A look at Sears’ U.S. pension prospects as Canadian windup ordered

A look at Sears’ U.S. pension prospects as Canadian windup ordered

Whatever the fate of Sears Holdings Corp.’s operations in the United States, the company’s American pensioners are likely to emerge better off than their Canadian…

Incorrect pension accounting significantly understates Ontario deficits: auditor general

Incorrect pension accounting significantly understates Ontario deficits: auditor general

As Ontarians prepare for the upcoming provincial election campaign, the province’s auditor general is raising the stakes in her dispute with the government about its…

  • By: Staff
  • April 26, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 09:49
Ontario annuity discharge changes coming July 1

Ontario annuity discharge changes coming July 1

As of July 1, 2018, new provisions under Ontario’s Pension Benefits Act will allow the sponsors of defined benefit pension plans to obtain a discharge…

  • By: Staff
  • April 25, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 13:00
Time to extend public sector pension expertise to other plans

Time to extend public sector pension expertise to other plans

For more than 30 years, Canada’s public sector pension organizations have distinguished themselves by delivering secure, sustainable defined benefit pensions and, in the process, have earned…

  • April 24, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 08:30
PIAC warns of ‘unintended consequences’ of Quebec’s proposed disparity rules

PIAC warns of ‘unintended consequences’ of Quebec’s proposed disparity rules

Quebec’s move to eliminate so-called disparities in pension plans will have unintended consequences, according to the Pension Investment Association of Canada. “In particular, we think that…

  • By: Staff
  • April 20, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 09:00
Canada’s DC industry thriving despite constant need to tinker

Canada’s DC industry thriving despite constant need to tinker

While Canada’s defined contribution pension industry faces many challenges, the continuous improvement of offerings from service providers is one of the things that’s working, according to Western…

  • By: Ryan Murphy
  • April 18, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 10:30
Just 17% of employers starting plans for CPP, QPP changes

Just 17% of employers starting plans for CPP, QPP changes

Most Canadian employers have yet to take action to prepare for the incoming changes to the Canada Pension Plan and Quebec Pension Plan, according to…

  • By: Staff
  • April 18, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 09:45
Why aren’t Canada’s public sector pension plans integrating enhanced CPP?

Why aren’t Canada’s public sector pension plans integrating enhanced CPP?

The first phase in implementing the Canada Pension Plan enhancement is looming large. Employee and employer contribution rates will start to increase in 2019 and…

Public pensions stressing corporate governance, board diversity as key issues for 2018

Public pensions stressing corporate governance, board diversity as key issues for 2018

The Alberta Investment Management Corp. is emphasizing the business case for increased female participation on corporate boards. In its response to a request for comment on the…

  • By: Staff
  • April 13, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 15:00
Editorial: An interesting tax mechanism to boost DC outcomes

Editorial: An interesting tax mechanism to boost DC outcomes

At Benefits Canada’s Defined Contribution Plan Summit in Montreal in February, member engagement and communication were a clear focus of many of the presentations. Case…

Plan sponsor tools for closing the pension generation gap

When it comes to the difficult issue of equity in pension plans, Quebec has been at the forefront recently with its plan to table a…

Ontario’s new pension regulator appoints inaugural CEO

Ontario’s new pension regulator appoints inaugural CEO

Ontario’s new pension regulator, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority, has appointed Mark White as its inaugural chief executive officer, effective May 7, 2018. White is currently…

  • By: Staff
  • April 11, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 16:11