Alberta’s recently-passed Bill 11 allows employers to offer employees access to private health services through their benefits plans and protects older employees from losing employer-sponsored health benefits solely based on age. Under the legislation, physicians and surgeons are now allowed work in both the public system and private-pay market. The legislation won’t apply to primary […]
An article on the impact of a discrimination lawsuit against a bureau of the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. was the most-read article on BenefitsCanada.com this past week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the last week: 1. Discrimination lawsuit underscores reputational, accommodation risks for employers: expert 2. Heated rivalry […]
Nearly three-quarters of employers (73 per cent) say their day-to-day human resources responsibilities have increased over the past few years, prompting them to seek streamlined benefits solutions, according to a new survey by the Hartford. The survey of 500 U.S. employers found 64 per cent of HR professionals said managing multiple benefits carriers is challenging. […]
GreenShield Canada is acquiring Kii Health’s Canadian mental-health services segment. The acquisition encompasses Kii’s employee assistance program, student assistance program, cognitive behavioural therapy associates and internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy services. Read: 2025 Healthy Outcomes Conference: How payor, provider integration can improve plan member health outcomes In addition to expanding its mental-health offerings, GreenShield will also expand […]
An Ontario court approved Wednesday the creation of a $250,000 hardship fund for former employees of Hudson’s Bay Co. as well as $5 million in collective payments to ex-HBC staff who were set to lose their long-term disability benefits. The hardship fund is targeted at workers and retirees who have been having trouble paying expenses […]
Ontario’s Superior Court is scheduled to decide next week whether to approve a fund the insolvent company will set up to help former Hudson’s Bay Co. workers with expenses. The more than 9,300 workers who lost their jobs last year when the company collapsed weren’t paid severance and some lost access to long-term disability and […]
An article on the suspension of the board chair at the Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology pension plan was the most-read article on BenefitsCanada.com this past week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the last week: 1. CAAT pension plan’s board chair suspended following senior executives’ departure […]
Canadian gig workers now earn more than a third (38 per cent) of their income from gig work, up from 15 per cent last year, according to a new survey by Securian Canada. The survey, which polled more than 2,000 gig workers in Canada, found 18 per cent reported relying on gig work for their […]
The Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association wants to see the removal of regulatory barriers that are holding back Canadian insurance business in 2026, says its president and chief executive officer Stephen Frank. Following a turbulent year in Canada-U.S. trade and political relations, Frank says it’s more important to ensure there’s a business environment that […]
Canadian benefits plan sponsors are anticipating an average medical trend rate of 8.3 per cent in 2026, up from 7.4 per cent in 2025, according to a new report by Aon. The report, which analyzed data from plan sponsors across 112 countries, found medical plan costs worldwide will rise by an average of 9.8 per […]