An article on the suspension of the board chair at the Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology pension plan was the most-read article on BenefitsCanada.com this past week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the last week: 1. CAAT pension plan’s board chair suspended following senior executives’ departure […]
The average Canadian defined benefit pension plan returned 0.6 per cent during the fourth quarter of 2025, down from 4.4 per cent in the previous quarter, according to a new report by the Royal Bank of Canada Investor Services. It found the average DB plan returned 7.9 per cent for the full year, down from […]
While 61 per cent of global chief executive officers expect global economic growth to improve, only 47 per cent of Canadian CEOs agree, and confidence in Canada’s own economy has plunged to 27 per cent (down from 42 per cent last year), according to a new survey by PwC Management Services LP. The survey, which […]
Canadian benefits plan sponsors are anticipating an average medical trend rate of 8.3 per cent in 2026, up from 7.4 per cent in 2025, according to a new report by Aon. The report, which analyzed data from plan sponsors across 112 countries, found medical plan costs worldwide will rise by an average of 9.8 per […]
The current moment is rooted in shifting ideas, characterized by the rise and fall of globalization, said Sean Speer, editor-at-large at the Hub and a practitioner-in-residence and fellow at the Public Policy Forum, in the opening keynote at the Canadian Investment Review’s 2025 Investment Innovation Conference. The stagflation of the 1970s, the elections of Margaret […]
Fading developed markets bilateral aid and U.S. tariff policy is pushing emerging markets debt as an attractive alternative for growing countries, according to Yvette Babb, portfolio manager at William Blair. “Debt levels in emerging markets are, in fact, lower than their advanced country counterparts. . . . Default rates are low, but also recovery rates, […]
After an eventful 2025, there are several developments and trends affecting Canadian defined benefit pension plan sponsors in 2026. Focus on investment strategy Major equity markets performed well in 2025, which was a key driver for another year of improved funded positions for many DB pension plans. Although most pension plans are well funded today, […]
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 […]