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 […]
An article on changes to Newfoundland and Labrador’s employee leave legislation was the most-read benefits story on BenefitsCanada.com this year. Here are the top 10 benefits stories of 2025: 1. What Newfoundland and Labrador-based employers need to know about changes to employee leave legislation 2. How national health-care legislation could impact benefits plan sponsors’ virtual […]
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 […]
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 […]
The ongoing retirement surge among baby boomers and the recent push to invest in Canada are creating the perfect conditions for the country to further explore employee ownership trusts and make the relevant legislation permanent, says Elspeth Murray, director of the centre for entrepreneurship, innovation and social impact at Queen’s University’s Smith School of Business. […]
About eight in 10 (79 per cent) U.S.-based institutional investors expect to see a market correction in 2026, according to a new survey by Natixis Investment Managers. These investors gave a 49 per cent probability of taking in a market correction valued between 10 per cent and 20 per cent, with a 20 per cent […]
Quebec’s finance minister presented an economic update on Tuesday that offered modest savings to taxpayers, as he painted an optimistic picture of the province’s finances heading into an election year. Eric Girard’s update includes decreases to payroll deductions for the provincial pension plan and parental insurance. The reductions, along with adjustments to how personal income […]
Canadian equities played a role in strengthening the resiliency of institutional investors’ portfolios amid a volatile 2025, says Garey Aitken, managing director and head of Canadian equities at Franklin Templeton’s ClearBridge Investments. Indeed, Canadian equities provided a welcome surprised with overperformance, a consistent reason for positive results in pension index reports throughout the year. “Not […]
In its 2025 budget, the federal government announced several initiatives to incentivize institutional investors to back domestic infrastructure and business ventures. The budget proposed $1 billion on a cash basis over three years, starting in 2026-27, for the Business Development Bank of Canada to launch a venture and growth capital catalyst initiative, a fund-of-funds that […]
Democratic nations are facing a host of monumental challenges, including a shifting world order, the rapid spread of misinformation, an aging population and a rapidly warming world. Time is of the essence for Canada to mitigate the impacts of these mega trends, said Andrew Coyne, political journalist with the Globe and Mail, in the keynote […]