The median solvency ratio among Canadian defined benefit pension plans was 132 per cent as of Dec. 31, 2025, an increase of seven per cent during the year, including three per cent in the final quarter, according to a new report by Mercer Canada. The report, which analyzed more than 470 plan sponsors, found Canadian […]
The funded status of a typical Canadian defined benefit pension plan increased on a solvency basis but decreased on an accounting basis during the month of November, according to a new report by Telus Health. The monthly pension index revealed the typical DB plan grew slightly from 107.3 per cent in October to 107.4 per […]
Mark Wiseman, former president and chief executive officer of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, will become the next Ambassador of Canada to the U.S., effective Feb. 15, 2026. Wiseman, who succeeds Kirsten Hillman in the role, has a background in law, business and finance. In addition to his role at the CPPIB, Wiseman was […]
Active management in the real estate market is delivering higher absolute returns and stronger risk-adjusted performance, according to a new report from Hazelview Investments. Active global REITs outperformed passive strategies across a 15-year time span by 151 basis points per year, the report said. An initial $10,000 investment grew 24 per cent in over the […]
After years of strong performance, the long-term outlook for equities is becoming more muted, says August Cruikshanks, an investment consultant in Eckler Ltd.’s pension and benefits consulting practice. Read: Sounding Board: Checking index concentration key for institutional investors as bubble talk persists At the start of 2025, Eckler’s 20-year expected return for Canadian equities was […]
One academic argues in favour of public equity’s transparency in a volatile economy, while another looks to private equity’s future gains. Yuanshun Li, associate professor, interim chair, finance, Toronto Metropolitan University In today’s climate of persistent inflation, uneven global growth and a recent pivot towards monetary easing, investors are rightly re-evaluating risk. While private equity […]
In a year marked by unpredictability and an unexpected rift between Canada and the U.S., Sophie Leblanc wants to look forward in McGill University’s investment strategy and avoid pitfalls from short-term volatility. “I’m less concerned with short-term volatility,” says the university’s chief investment officer and treasurer. “There has been a lot of short-term volatility and […]
A study by the University Pension Plan of Ontario of the voting decisions of investment managers revealed a “certain level of misalignment” with asset owners, says Delaney Greig, the UPP’s director of investor stewardship. The investment organization evaluated its proxy voting alignment with external investment managers to compare if they meet the UPP’s stewardship goals, […]
The Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan is selling its 60 per cent stake in the Sydney Desalination Plant to the Utilities Trust of Australia. The UTA, which previously owned 40 per cent of the plant, will now take full ownership of the facility, which can produce up to 250 million litres of drinking water per day. […]
Heightened volatility could make defined benefit pension plan sponsors pause before deciding how to approach the use of favourable financial positions resulting in surpluses. While Canadian DB plan sponsors have been in surplus on a going concern basis for a significant amount of time, many are now facing a surplus situation on a solvency basis, […]