Alberta’s Local Authorities Pension Plan and Public Service Pension Plan have launched a new board education program aimed at strengthening governance by equipping trustees with practical, decision-ready knowledge for an increasingly complex pension environment. Developed over two years in collaboration with stakeholders, the program responds to a comprehensive review of board learning needs and reflects […]
In 2026, the Canadian Institute of Actuaries will continue to focus on the impact of climate risk on several areas, including pension investments, says Angelita Graham, a partner at Mercer Canada and president of the CIA. Last year, the organization began working with Université du Québec à Montréal for its research chair in actuarial and […]
An article on the future of the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero and its impact on institutional investors was the most-read investment story on BenefitsCanada.com this year. Here are the top 10 investment stories of 2025: 1. Unraveling of Carney-led GFANZ doesn’t spell end of global climate action: expert 2. Financial markets resilient in […]
When the Canadian Association of Pension Supervisory Authorities updated its capital accumulation plan guideline in September 2025, the Co-operative Superannuation Society Pension Plan conducted an audit to gauge its alignment with the document’s current form. “We found, for the most part, the CSS was already meeting a lot of the standards, as far as I […]
Improving participation and engagement in pension savings is a constant challenge for the retirement industry, but experts point to more insistent and consistent tactics around member behaviour. Derek Messacar, associate professor of applied economics, Memorial University Programs that offer tax deductions on savings in designated accounts have, for a long time now, been contested as […]
While emerging forms of artificial intelligence such as agentic AI may hold promises and challenges for pension plan sponsors, the human touch remains important when advising plan members on financial decisions, said Francis Boulianne, principal in Normandin Beaudry’s group benefits practice, during a recent webinar hosted by the consultancy. “[Chatbots] were never intended to replace […]
In its fall economic statement, the Ontario government said it’s introducing legislation that would amend the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System Act, enabling provisions intended to enhance the OMERS’ governance, strengthen transparency and accountability. The introduction of legislation takes place following a 2024 governance review that was completed earlier this fall. In his report, special advisor […]
In its fall economic statement, the Ontario government said it plans to introduce legislation that would effectively end preferred pharmacy networks in the province. The legislation, based on the province’s findings from two consultations, would enable an ‘any willing provider’ framework — in which any pharmacy willing to match a PPN’s financial terms could join […]
Five of Canada’s largest pension funds earned high marks for their public reporting efforts, according to a new report from Top1000funds.com and CEM Benchmarking Inc. It ranked pension funds on their costs, governance, performance and responsible investment efforts. Canada’s pension system received an average overall score of 92 out of 100, a one-point increase from […]
When Bell Canada was communicating defined contribution plan changes to members in 2024, it turned to artificial intelligence to help personalize its message to all of its 25,000 plan members. The redesign, which aimed to respond to members’ different financial priorities, enhanced the company’s savings options with a first home savings account, a tax-free savings […]