Canadians believe they’ll need an average of $1.7 million to retire comfortably, up from $1.54 million in 2024, and more than a third say they’re unlikely to reach that goal, according to a new survey by BMO Financial Group. It found retirement expectations vary significantly by region, with British Columbia reporting the highest average savings […]
The Ontario Municipal Employees’ Retirement System earned a six per cent net investment return in 2025, generating $8.2 billion in net investment income, according to the investment organization’s latest financial report. Read: OMERS returns 2.2% in first half of 2025, net assets reach $138.2 billion It noted the OMERS increased its net assets to $145.2 billion […]
Nearly three-quarters (74 per cent) of Canadians say rising inflation has increased concerns about having enough money saved for retirement, according to a new survey by the Bank of Montreal. It found 47 per cent estimated they’re spending an additional $100 to $300 per month on necessities, while 34 per cent said their monthly expenses […]
An article on the federal government’s official rebuttal to a 2023 report that argued Alberta is entitled to more than half the assets of the Canada Pension Plan was the most-read pension story on BenefitsCanada.com this year. Here are the top 10 pension stories of 2025: 1. Feds’ report dismisses Alberta’s CPP entitlement, offers formula […]
When Grand River Hospital and St. Mary’s General Hospital merged in April 2025, leaders weren’t just bringing together two sites and two cultures, they also had to merge two very different pension arrangements. For years, Grand River had run its own defined benefit plan worth more than $650 million, while St. Mary’s employees had been […]
A continued rally in equity markets in the third quarter of 2025 strengthened retirement income outcomes for capital accumulation plan members, according to a new report by Eckler Ltd. Optimism around trade negotiations, a U.S. Federal Reserve rate cut and steady enthusiasm for artificial intelligence supported markets through the period. As a result, the consultancy’s […]
An Ontario arbitrator has confirmed the validity of the long-term disability exception to the mandatory retirement rule. When Ontario eliminated mandatory retirement in 2006, the legislation provided an exception for insured employment benefit plans to maintain a cutoff based on age. “This was intended to avoid destabilizing existing insurance plans while still permitting parties to […]
Beyond the noticeable changes in the new National Hockey League collective bargaining agreement — like expanding the regular season to 84 games and implementing a playoff salary cap — is an investment in caring for former players that hasn’t existed until now. The league and union will contribute US$4 million annually to the newly established […]
The real estate investment arm of one of the country’s largest pension funds is worried about the value of its assets if a B.C. billionaire is able to buy Hudson’s Bay Co.’s leases at its properties. In documents filed with the Ontario Superior Court, Oxford Properties Group argues transferring leases to “an unvetted and unproven” […]
Roughly three-quarters (73 per cent) of Canadian employers say the rising cost of benefits is the No. 1 issue influencing their benefits strategy this year, up significantly from 40 per cent in 2023, according to a new survey by WTW. The survey, which polled more than 145 employers across the public and private sectors, found […]