An article on the Quebec government’s adoption of legislation for variable payment life annuities 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. Quebec adopts VPLA legislation 2. What employers need to know about provincial changes to sick […]
The Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan has surpassed 500,000 members, including more than 300,000 active members, giving it one of the highest active-to-retired ratios among Canada’s major pension plans. The milestone was reached in late December and reflects the plan’s continued growth alongside Ontario’s health-care sector, according to a press release. Read: HOOPP opening to Ontario […]
The funded status of a typical Canadian defined benefit pension plan increased on a solvency basis but decreased on an accounting basis during the month of November, according to a new report by Telus Health. The monthly pension index revealed the typical DB plan grew slightly from 107.3 per cent in October to 107.4 per […]
The Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan is appointing Jenny Hammarlund as executive managing director of real estate, effective Jan. 5. Hammarlund will be based in London and is responsible with guiding the real estate team’s strategy, portfolio and asset management activities globally, according to a press release. She’ll report to Gillian Brown, chief investment officer of […]
The Quebec government has adopted regulations allowing defined contribution pension plans and voluntary retirement savings plans to offer variable payment life annuities. The regulatory changes establish the framework under which DC plans and voluntary retirement savings plans may offer the lifetime income option, including conditions related to plan design, valuation and administration. The move follows […]
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 […]
Private benefits plan sponsors’ spending on weight-management drugs has quadrupled since 2021, according to a new report by Telus Health. In 2024 alone, the category doubled in size, ranking No. 17 overall by eligible amount (up from No. 29 in 2023). Still, the category’s budget impact remains low. By the end of June 2025, the […]
Most Canadian employees support a hybrid approach to office work, with 80 per cent preferring some in-office time and only one in five favouring fully remote work, according to a new survey by Indeed. The survey, which polled more than 1,000 full-time Canadian employees, found a sharp shift from pre-pandemic office norms, with just 34 […]
A new report by the Mental Health Commission of Canada highlights the need for collaboration between the public and private sectors to address system challenges, drive innovation and deliver seamless, equitable mental-health and substance use health services for Canadians, says the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association. The report summarized a series of roundtable discussions […]
About three-quarters (73 per cent) of global institutional investors have a positive outlook for 2026, according to a new survey from the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan. The survey, which gathered responses from 1,270 investors, found 81 per cent of respondents think 2026 will be a particularly good year for private markets despite rising concerns about […]