The Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan is reporting a 9.7 per cent return as at Dec. 31, 2024, with net assets increasing to $123 billion, up from $112.6 billion in 2023. Public equities (17.9 per cent) and private equities (17.9 per cent) accounted for the highest returns in 2024 within the HOOP’s portfolio. Infrastructure (12.3 […]
Between 2018 and 2023, prescription drug expenditures in private drug plans grew at a compound annual growth rate of 7.1 per cent, according to a new report by the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board. It found in 2023, prescription drug expenditures for private plans rose by 12.9 per cent, returning to the pre-pandemic growth trend. […]
Canadian government bond yields declined further in February based on the impact to growth from tariff policy from the U.S. on Canadian exports materializing, according to a new report from FTSE Russell. Tariff risk is weighing down the entire Canadian segment including government bonds and Canadian credit. However, the risk that reciprocal tariffs may push […]
Rio Tinto Group is appointing Ayman Alvi as general manager of benefits. Alvi was previously vice-president of global pension and benefits at Scotiabank. Prior to that, he was a senior manager and consulting actuary at KPMG in Canada, a manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers, an actuarial associate at WTW and a senior pension specialist at Fidelity Canada. […]
The Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan’s venture growth arm is leading a US$175 million Series F investment round for artificial intelligence, data and analytics software company Quantexa. The latest funding round, which gives the U.K.-based company a valuation of $2.6 billion, also includes existing investor British Patient Capital. Ara Yeromian, managing director at the Teachers’ Venture […]
More than half (55 per cent) of Canadian women employees say hybrid working has given them opportunities at work they wouldn’t have otherwise had, according to a new survey by International Workplace Group. The survey, which polled more than 500 women, found two-fifths (42 per cent) said that hybrid working arrangements have empowered them to […]
An article on how employers can prepare their benefits plans amid U.S. tariffs was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com this past week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the last week: 1. Expert panel: How employers can prepare their benefits plans, support employees amid U.S. tariff threat 2. […]
The British Columbia Investment Management Corp. is focusing on robust corporate governance, the protection of shareholder rights and effective oversight of environmental, social and governance risks and opportunities as part of its latest proxy voting guidelines. In a press release, Jennifer Coulson, senior managing director and global head of ESG at the BCI, said proxy […]
The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec is acquiring Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. in a deal worth roughly $10 billion. The transaction will see common shareholders receive $13.75 per share, which represents a 58 per cent premium from the company’s current share price. In a press release, Emmanuel Jaclot, executive vice-president and head of […]
Nova Scotia is increasing paid domestic violence leave from three to five days, effective April 1. The change aims to give employees more time to access essential medical, legal and social support services, according to a press release. Currently, employees with at least three months of service are eligible for up to 16 continuous weeks […]