PRPPs: Not a silver bullet

The Framework for Pooled Registered Pension Plans, released by the Department of Finance in December 2010, suggests that the introduction of pooled registered pension plans (PRPPs) would improve the retirement savings system by providing an “accessible, straightforward and administratively low-cost retirement option,” particularly for the self-employed and employees of small and medium-size businesses who currently […]

Flaherty brings down “responsible, practical” budget

Seniors, students and job-seekers will see some additional benefits from this year’s budget, introduced today in Ottawa. But those benefits are relatively minor, and may not be enough to appease the opposition parties, who are threatening to topple the government and trigger a federal election. “We believe that the honourable members in the opposition will […]

  • By: Doug Watt
  • March 22, 2011 September 13, 2019
  • 15:48
Will PRPPs succeed?

Pooled registered pension plans (PRPPs) are coming, and many will say not a moment too soon given that only one in three private sector worker is currently participating in a registered pension plan or group RRSP. The hope is that PRPPs will dramatically improve pension coverage thus relieving public pressure to expand the Canada/Quebec Pension […]

Towers Watson offers reform guidelines

The federal government’s proposed pooled registered pension plans (PRPPs), as well as any subsequent retirement income system reform undertaken in Canada, should be designed to benefit those who need the most help—namely middle-income earners—according to Towers Watson. In a new article called Rethinking retirement: Principles to guide reform of the Canadian retirement system, the professional […]

  • By: Staff
  • March 10, 2011 September 13, 2019
  • 14:51
PRPP support “virtually unanimous”: CLHIA

An overwhelming majority of Canadians say they want a program that makes it easier for employers to offer a pension plan, according to a Research House survey commissioned by the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association (CLHIA). The results show 90% of Canadians support the federal government’s proposal to improve employer access to pension plans […]

Survey says majority support CPP increase

A new survey conducted by Environics survey conducted for the Canadian Union of Public Employees shows that proposals to expand the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) are far more popular than the latest government plans for a new private-sector option. According to the survey, 76% of respondents support increasing CPP benefits and 51% oppose the current […]

  • By: Staff
  • February 1, 2011 September 13, 2019
  • 15:09
Building accountability into the PRPP framework

It has been a month since Canada’s finance ministers emerged from their Kananaskis, Alta. meeting and announced agreement on moving forward with the pooled registered pension plan (PRPP), and shelving Canada pension plan (CPP) expansion for now. Predictably, perhaps, the financial services industry has applauded the PRPP, while the labour movement have decried it as […]

  • By: Greg Hurst
  • January 21, 2011 September 13, 2019
  • 14:38
Who killed CPP reform? CLC asks

The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) is looking for the culprits that stymied the enhancements to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). The CLC publicly announced that in late December 2010 the group filed two Access to Information requests to seek internal government and external lobbying materials related to the CPP and private sector pooled registered pension […]

Voluntary PRPPs won’t address coverage issue

Pooled registered pension plans (PRPPs) as a solution to increase pension coverage for Canadians is a notion that was widely supported in the industry when the government announced its commitment to move ahead with the strategy last month. As industry experts recognize that this is surely a step in the right direction, some feel it’s […]

Ministers agree on PRPPs, CPP expansion on hold

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has announced that the provinces and federal government came to an agreement during yesterday’s meeting in Kananaskis, Alta., to move ahead with the pooled registered pension plan (PRPP) framework. Expansion of the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) is being moved to the back burner for now. “I’m particularly pleased to announce that […]