With environmental, social and governance issues top of mind for many pension plan investors, modern slavery is one concern to keep on the radar. Historically, slaves were kept through force, but modern slavery is about forcing people to work through coercion and lies, says Sudhir Roc-Sennett, head of ESG and thought leadership at Vontobel Asset […]
Since the financial crisis, the Pension Plan for the Employees of Concordia University has transformed the way it approaches investments by introducing its first funding policy and revamping its investment policy. Historically, the plan had a 60/40 asset mix and its board of directors was completely focused on the asset side of the equation, says […]
A group of U.S. institutional investors, including public pension funds, representing more than US$1 trillion is calling on investee companies to do more to include people with disabilities in the workforce. “Disability inclusion provides businesses with a great opportunity to improve their bottom lines, while boosting diversity and innovation,” said one of the statement’s signatories, […]
The Canadian Mental Health Association is publishing a free resource to help employers develop new workplace impairment policies or update their existing ones. The guide’s goal is to promote mental health and wellness in the workplace and help employers understand their legal requirements, according to a press release. When creating policies focused on impairment, the resource recommended employers […]
Since recreational cannabis was legalized across Canada six months ago, related workplace problems have mainly been notable by their absence. “It’s been a surprising lack of significant issues arising in the workplace,” said Angelo Tsebelis, president at Starseed Medicinal Inc., during a panel at Benefits Canada’s 2019 Benefits and Pension Summit in Toronto on Wednesday. This […]
As the Brexit deadline of March 29 inches closer, markets remain uncertain about a resolution to the situation between the U.K. and the European Union. “The most astonishing element in all of this is that two-and-a-half years later, there’s almost no additional clarity on what we’re actually going to end up with,” said Peter Westaway, chief […]
While Canada’s public and private pension plans are a vital player in the transition to a lower carbon economy, they’re only one component, with other financial market participants, such as banks, insurers and asset managers, must also play a role, according to the Pension Investment Association of Canada. In a letter commenting on a report by an […]
The high discount rates used by many Canadian public-sector pension plans increase the risk they won’t have enough funds to meet future obligations, according to new research by the C.D. Howe Institute “Employers and employees have an incentive to keep the discount rate high in order to reduce the contributions they pay today,” said Constance Smith, co-author […]
The Shareholder Association for Education and Research is calling on federal policymakers to adopt measures to protect workers’ retirement savings. In a letter to the federal government, the Vancouver-based, responsible investment organization suggested amending bankruptcy law to provide courts with the power to set aside executive and director bonuses and compensation increases where a company with unfunded […]
The political congestion likely to stem from the United States’ midterm election results has equally mixed implications for equity markets, with Democrats taking a majority in the House of Representatives and Republicans making further gains in their majority in the Senate. “A split Congress may bring gridlock, but the stock market has historically fared well with divided […]