Canada – Benefits Canada.com

2023 Defined Benefit Investment Forum: Can institutional investors expect a recession in 2024?

bmcgovern — Wed, 24 Jan 2024 13:00:31 +0000

The “most widely anticipated recession in history” could arrive in 2024, said Eric Lascelles, chief economist at RBC Global Asset Management, during the keynote session at the Canadian Investment Review’s 2023 Defined Benefit Investment Forum in December. “This is still an environment in which higher rates are exerting quite a profound drag on economic growth, […]

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A look at the latest legal issues around ESG investing

bwolfe — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 13:57:37 +0000

As the University Pension Plan increases its focus on climate change, its responsible investment policy considers environmental, social and governance factors as essential to sound long-term investing. “We’ve seen a lot of evidence from a variety of service providers — from investment banks to investment managers — that have demonstrated [the climate] is getting warmer […]

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More work to be done in shrinking Canada’s gender pay gap: report

bwolfe — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 19:00:59 +0000

While Canada ranks No. 31 out of 145 countries for women’s labour force participation, its wage equality ranking sits at No. 71, according to a new report by the World Economic Forum. It found Canada’s gender pay gap is roughly 16 per cent in comparison to other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development member countries. […]

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Canadian pensions weathering the coronavirus pandemic: report

bwolfe — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 14:00:47 +0000

While the coronavirus pandemic has taken a heavy toll among the elderly, retirees have seen their pension payments and entitlements well protected in Canada and other member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, according to a new report from the organization. The average retirement age in Canada is 63.9 years for men […]

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Net-zero transition offering opportunities for Canadian pension sector: report

bwolfe — Wed, 10 Nov 2021 13:00:28 +0000

Canada’s $4 trillion pension sector could enjoy immense commercial benefits by aligning with the transition to net-zero emissions and helping to mobilize $140 billion of low carbon investments per year, according to a new report by Corporate Knights, the Natural Step Canada and the Smart Prosperity Institute. It found Canada’s 12 largest pension fund managers […]

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A look at current provincial policies on bereavement leave

bwolfe — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 13:00:01 +0000

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has made legislated bereavement leave policies top of mind for both employers and employees. As of Sept. 15, at least one in 1,376 Canadian residents have died from the coronavirus, for a total of 27,315 deaths, according to The New York Times. Bereavement leave is available for employees across most Canadian jurisdictions and some of […]

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Federal parties making mental-health services promises on campaign trail

bwolfe — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 13:00:37 +0000

If elected, the Conservative Party is promising it will encourage employers to add mental-health coverage to their benefits plans by offering a tax credit for 25 per cent of the cost of this additional coverage for the first three years. Meanwhile, the Liberal Party is promising Canadians increased access to free mental-health services through a new […]

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Possible national pharmacare program has pros, cons for employers: experts

bwolfe — Wed, 18 Aug 2021 13:00:51 +0000

Discussion around implementing a national universal pharmacare strategy is growing louder ahead of next month’s federal election. In its 2019 budget, the federal government said it would work with partners to move forward on a national pharmacare program, including the creation of a new national drug agency and formulary, as well as a national strategy for […]

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Trudeau mandating coronavirus vaccinations for federal employees

bwolfe — Mon, 16 Aug 2021 13:00:28 +0000

Ottawa will require federal employees and workers in federally regulated industries to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, marking a shift in the federal government’s position on vaccine mandates. The move — which will affect roughly 1.5 million workers — is necessary to protect against more dangerous variants of the coronavirus, says Dominic LeBlanc, head of the Privy […]

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Upward pressure increasing on Canadian bond real yields: report

bwolfe — Tue, 13 Apr 2021 16:00:40 +0000

Inflation break-evens at multi-year highs and higher nominal yields are putting some upward pressure on real yields in Canada, according to a new report by FTSE Russell. The firm found first-quarter 2021 performance returns showed a sell-off in government bonds, led by longer U.K., U.S. and Canadian government bonds, as the reflation trade gained momentum. […]

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