On Sept. 20, the 2018 Halifax Benefits Summit featured insightful sessions on benefits, health and wellness and drug plan trends. With population numbers struggling in the Maritimes, the conference looked at how companies can ensure they’re providing plan members with the best, most competitive benefits options in order to attract and retain talent. Here are some of the highlights of […]
For Jonathan Zaid, the benefits of medical cannabis aren’t theoretical or clinical; they’re deeply personal. Diagnosed at age 14 with daily persistent headache, a rare and extremely painful condition, Zaid tried more than 40 medications before medical marijuana enabled him to sleep through the night for the first time in five years. Now the director […]
Medavie Blue Cross is adding medical cannabis coverage to its benefits provision. The extended health-care benefit will be optional, standalone coverage for plan sponsors, providing reimbursement for fresh and dried cannabis, as well as cannabis oil. Plan sponsors will have the option of an annual maximum coverage amount. Read: SSQ Insurance to offer medical cannabis coverage in 2019 Coverage […]
SSQ Life Insurance Co. Inc. will provide plan sponsors with the option of covering medical marijuana beginning Jan. 1, 2019, The move is in relation to recent clinical advances showing the efficacy of cannabis in treating certain medical problems, according to the Quebec-based insurer. To help keep group insurance costs in check, SSQ will require prior […]
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 […]