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Ontario looking at employer-operated, onsite vaccination clinics for ‘hot spot’ communities

In a bid to ensure individuals from hot-spot communities get access to the coronavirus vaccine, the Ontario government is working with public health units, business groups and large employers to explore setting up employer-operated, onsite vaccination clinics, noted a press release. “Partnering with communities to deliver the vaccine is critical to reducing the impact of […]

  • April 16, 2021 April 16, 2021
  • 09:00

BlackRock launching low-carbon ETFs

BlackRock Inc. is launching two active sustainable exchange traded funds, highlighting the increased focus on climate-aware strategies from global institutional investors. The two funds have raised more than $1.5 billion and invest in large- and mid-cap companies that the investment firm believes are better positioned to benefit from the transition to a low-carbon economy, according […]

  • April 15, 2021 April 15, 2021
  • 09:00

Salesforce allowing vaccinated employees in the U.S. return to the office

In just a few weeks, Salesforce will allow employees in select U.S. locations to return to work in the office, according to a statement the company posted on its website. Starting in May, Salesforce’s vaccinated U.S. employees in California, specifically in San Francisco, Palo Alto and Irvine, can voluntarily join groups of 100 or fewer […]

  • April 14, 2021 April 14, 2021
  • 15:00

Penad Pension acquiring DB pension plan, group benefits administration company

Penad Pension Services Ltd. is acquiring Ontario-based SeclonLogic Inc., a defined benefit pension plan and group benefits administration software solutions company. “I am confident that this transaction will leverage the products and services of the combined firm to the benefit of our clients and partners,” said Matthew Price, president of the Penad Group of Companies, in […]

  • April 14, 2021 April 13, 2021
  • 09:00

Upward pressure increasing on Canadian bond real yields: report

Inflation break-evens at multi-year highs and higher nominal yields are putting some upward pressure on real yields in Canada, according to a new report by FTSE Russell. The firm found first-quarter 2021 performance returns showed a sell-off in government bonds, led by longer U.K., U.S. and Canadian government bonds, as the reflation trade gained momentum. […]

  • April 13, 2021 April 13, 2021
  • 12:00

Hub acquiring Calgary benefits provider

Hub International Ltd. is acquiring Calgary-based Wessex Financial Inc. Wessex Financial is a family and business benefits provider that specializes in association benefit planning, individual member services, critical awareness and financial literacy programs. Read: Hub acquiring Edmonton benefits, retirement consultancy This is the latest of a string of Canadian benefits providers and consulting firms that Hub International […]

  • April 12, 2021 April 13, 2021
  • 15:00

Empire Life offering opioid management solution to plan members

The Empire Life Insurance Co. is adding opioid management solution to its pay-direct drug benefit plans. Alongside the coronavirus pandemic, another public-health issue has worsened during these tumultuous times. Between July and September 2020 there were 1,705 apparent opioid toxicity deaths, according to the Government of Canada. This stat represents the highest quarterly count since […]

  • April 8, 2021 April 8, 2021
  • 09:00

CPPIB launching new investment group focused on sustainable energy

The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board is launching a new investment group that will focus on renewables, conventional energy and new technology and service solutions. The sustainable energy group combines the CPPIB’s energy and resources group with the power and renewables group for a total of $18 billion in assets, according to a press release. The […]

  • April 7, 2021 April 8, 2021
  • 13:00

Alberta Teachers’ withdrawing from responsible-investing secretariat

The Alberta Teachers’ Retirement Fund Board is withdrawing its membership from the Principles of Responsible Investing Secretariat as it transfers responsibility for asset management to the Alberta Investment Management Corp. In a press release, the ATRF said its withdrawal from the United Nations-supported investor network would allow it to respect “the spirit of its responsible […]

  • April 6, 2021 April 9, 2021
  • 12:45

Canadian DB pension plans see improved funded positions in Q1: reports

Canada’s defined benefit pension plans’ funded positions continue to improve in 2021, ending the first quarter at their highest levels in more than 20 years, according to Mercer Canada’s pension health index. It found solvency ratios increased from 114 per cent at the end of 2020 to 124 per cent at the end of March 2021, with the median solvency ratio […]

  • April 6, 2021 April 6, 2021
  • 09:00