As the Canadian cannabis industry blazes a path of growth in the run-up to October’s legalization, so does the number of related publicly listed stocks trading on North America’s largest indexes. Getting in on the action, some of Canada’s public pension funds are starting to look for exposure to cannabis companies, according to a report […]
For investors interested in cannabis, new Statistics Canada figures provide insight on consumption and retail prices, which are increasing and decreasing, respectively. Canadian household expenditures on cannabis for both medical and non-medical use increased 1.2 per cent in the second quarter of 2018, according to the report. This follows an increase of 1.4 per cent in the first […]
Starseed Medicinal Inc. has reached an agreement to be the medical cannabis supplier for Shoppers Drug Mart Corp. The agreement is subject to Health Canada’s approval of Shoppers Drug Mart’s application to be a licensed producer. The products are expected to be sold online due to current regulations restricting the sale of medical marijuana in retail pharmacies. […]
On Oct. 17, 2018, it will be legal to purchase and consume recreational cannabis in Canada. In a recent survey of Mercer’s employer clients and Canadian employees, we found 78 per cent of respondents believe the legalization of recreational cannabis is a concern for human resources leaders. In addition, nearly half (45 per cent) of respondents believe it’s a concern for […]
One-third of Canadian employers feel prepared for the impending legalization of cannabis, according to a new survey by Mercer Canada. The survey, which polled 366 Canadian employers and more than 1,000 employees, found another third feels somewhat prepared and 27 per cent of employees feel their employer is ready. Among leadership, 78 per cent of human resources leaders, […]
Improving the mental health of employees ranks ahead of physical health and wellness as a top priority for human resources leaders for 2019, according to a new survey by Morneau Shepell Ltd. The survey, which polled nearly 400 Canadian organizations, found 48 per cent of HR leaders view improving the mental health of their workforce as a top priority, narrowing passing […]
Aurora Cannabis Inc. has promoted Debra Wilson to chief human resources officer, effective immediately. Since joining the company in June 2017, Wilson was previously Aurora Cannabis’ vice-president and senior vice-president of HR. Before that, she was director of HR at Universal Rail Systems Ltd., vice-president of HR and organizational development at Alberta Pensions Services Corp., senior director of HR and administration […]
There was a lot of news to share from the pension, investment, benefits and human resources industries this month. Here are the 10 most popular online stories of the month: 1. Employer-paid benefits to be subject to new B.C. health tax 2. Ontario government to become second payer under OHIP+ changes 3. Great-West Life’s Jeff […]
Manulife Financial Corp. is launching a medical marijuana program in partnership with Shoppers Drug Mart Corp. this fall. The program, which will be available for participating group benefits plans and individual plans in Canada, will involve specially trained pharmacists from Shoppers Drug Mart at a patient care centre based in Ontario. The pharmacists will be available to […]
Employers and insurers could reduce their pharmaceutical spending by embracing medical cannabis, according to the chief medical officer for a licensed producer of the drug. Dr. Peter Blecher, a pain medicine specialist who works for Starseed Medicinal Inc., told attendees at Benefits Canada’s Chronic Disease at Work conference that cannabis holds a great deal of promise […]