Latest news in Governance/legislation

Feds to review discount rates for pension, benefits obligations

Feds to review discount rates for pension, benefits obligations

The federal government is currently reviewing the discount rates it uses for its pension and benefits obligations, Finance Minister Bill Morneau said in the fall economic statement…

Incoming monetary penalties for Ontario pensions put spotlight on plan governance

Incoming monetary penalties for Ontario pensions put spotlight on plan governance

The coming into force of an administrative monetary penalty regime under Ontario’s Pension Benefits Act on Jan. 1, 2018, will change the risk profile for…

Caisse seeks 50% boost to low-carbon investment under new green-focused strategy

Caisse seeks 50% boost to low-carbon investment under new green-focused strategy

The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec will now be factoring climate change into every investment decision it makes, setting out targets and actions…

  • By: Staff
  • October 18, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 15:00
Have your say: Is it time to pass the federal target-benefit bill?

Have your say: Is it time to pass the federal target-benefit bill?

One year since the federal government unveiled its target-benefit bill, the issue is still attracting divisive opinions from the industry. On one hand, there’s continued…

  • By: Staff
  • October 18, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 09:00
Morneau Shepell appointed to oversee windup of Sears Canada pension

Morneau Shepell appointed to oversee windup of Sears Canada pension

The Ontario Superintendent of Financial Services has selected Morneau Shepell Ltd. to take over the administration of Sears Canada Inc.’s pension plan. Following the announcement…

  • By: Staff
  • October 17, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 16:30
Feds should apply logic of taxing employee discounts to public service pensions

Feds should apply logic of taxing employee discounts to public service pensions

The idea of taxing employee discounts appears to be on hold for now, but the government may reintroduce it at a later date. If it does,…

80% of pension plans underfunded but solvency improved slightly in 2016: OSFI

80% of pension plans underfunded but solvency improved slightly in 2016: OSFI

The overall solvency position improved slightly for federally registered pension plans in 2016 compared to 2015, but the majority of funds remained slightly underfunded on…

  • By: Staff
  • October 11, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 09:45
Sears liquidation a vindication for pensioners’ move to force DB windup

Sears liquidation a vindication for pensioners’ move to force DB windup

Sears Canada Inc.’s announcement on Tuesday that it will seek a liquidation order from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice appears to vindicate the earlier…

A look at the Netherlands’ proposed new DC model

A look at the Netherlands’ proposed new DC model

The Netherlands has long had a reputation for having a strong two-pillar retirement system that provides retirees with an income replacement rate of at least…

  • By: Jann Lee
  • October 10, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 08:54
Auditor general says N.S. teachers’ pension plan in ‘worrisome financial shape’

Auditor general says N.S. teachers’ pension plan in ‘worrisome financial shape’

Nova Scotia’s auditor general is sounding the alarm about the financial status of the province’s teachers’ pension plan, calling for action to address its “serious…

  • By: Staff
  • October 4, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 16:30
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Ontario pension accounting debate: Who’s right in the dispute over plan surpluses?

For those who aren’t accountants, it’s likely quite difficult to determine who’s right in the ongoing debate between the Ontario government and the province’s auditor…

New national hub to look into challenges facing pension industry

New national hub to look into challenges facing pension industry

The Global Risk Institute in Financial Services is creating a national pension hub that will be a Canadian centre for pension knowledge and research. It…

  • By: Staff
  • October 4, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 09:00
FSCO issues policy on missing pension plan members

FSCO issues policy on missing pension plan members

The Financial Services Commission of Ontario has released guidance for plan administrators on dealing with missing pension plan members. The policy, which took effect on…

  • By: Staff
  • October 3, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 08:50
Pension industry favours majority regulator approach to multijurisdictional plans

Pension industry favours majority regulator approach to multijurisdictional plans

Rules around funding and asset allocation for multijurisdictional pension plans should adhere to those set out by the majority regulator, according to stakeholder submissions to…

  • By: Staff
  • October 3, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 08:50
Actuaries consulting on the future of Canada’s retirement age

Actuaries consulting on the future of Canada’s retirement age

The Canadian Institute of Actuaries is consulting with its members on the development of a public statement for policy-makers about what’s next for Canada’s retirement…

Have your say: Should pensions take priority in bankruptcy situations?

Have your say: Should pensions take priority in bankruptcy situations?

Nortel Networks Corp., Stelco Inc., Sears Canada Inc. These are just a few of the many bankruptcy or restructuring cases that have catapulted the financial…

  • By: Staff
  • September 27, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 08:45
Tax proposal could add complexity to GST/HST rules for pension plans

Tax proposal could add complexity to GST/HST rules for pension plans

The Department of Finance’s draft tax legislative proposals, published on Sept. 8, include amendments to improve the clarity and effectiveness of the goods and services…

  • By: Greg Hurst
  • September 25, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 16:00
Court decision in Wabush restructuring the ‘worst-case scenario’ for pensioners

Court decision in Wabush restructuring the ‘worst-case scenario’ for pensioners

A Quebec Superior Court decision refusing to give priority to pension contribution deficiencies in the context of a mining company’s restructuring has ramped up the…

NDP launches End Pension Theft campaign, proposed changes to bankruptcy laws

NDP launches End Pension Theft campaign, proposed changes to bankruptcy laws

The federal New Democratic Party is proposing changes to federal bankruptcy laws to protect employees and retirees when their employer files for bankruptcy. Its End…

  • By: Staff
  • September 19, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 10:00
A primer on reviewing statements of investment policies and procedures

A primer on reviewing statements of investment policies and procedures

For plans sponsors that haven’t comprehensively reviewed their statements of investment policies and procedures in a while, it may be time to refresh the document to…

Employers looking to ‘DBification’ of DC plans as industry matures

Employers looking to ‘DBification’ of DC plans as industry matures

As the defined contribution pension industry continues to mature, employers are considering ways to improve them by introducing elements of defined benefit plans, an industry…

  • By: Glenn Kauth
  • September 13, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 16:02
N.S. looking at changes to DB pension funding framework, target-benefit plans

N.S. looking at changes to DB pension funding framework, target-benefit plans

Nova Scotia is following in the footsteps of a number of other provinces by looking into its funding framework for defined benefit pension plans. Like…

Mercer introduces outsourced plan governance for DC pensions

Mercer introduces outsourced plan governance for DC pensions

Mercer is introducing outsourced governance for employers with defined contribution pension plans. The offering, Mercer Future Wise, will delegate employers’ plan governance to a team…

  • By: Staff
  • September 11, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 09:00
People Watch: Eckler names new resident scholar

People Watch: Eckler names new resident scholar

Eckler Ltd. has named researcher Bonnie-Jeanne MacDonald as its new resident scholar.  MacDonald, an actuary and researcher at Dalhousie University, drew attention in 2014 when…

  • By: Staff
  • September 5, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 10:43
FOI cases piercing veil of pension plan secrecy

FOI cases piercing veil of pension plan secrecy

Pension plan administrators should get used to dealing with requests for their actuarial documents while lawyers duke it out over just how confidential they are,…