Featured News and Research

• Canada Pension Plan Contributions and Self-Insured Disability Benefits: The Rules Change Again

  In December 2011, the federal government amended the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) to clarify that contributory earnings for CPP purposes include all employer-funded disability benefits provided on a self-insured basis. Continue reading...

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  Clear Direction in a Complex World: 2011 – 2012 Change and Communication ROI Study Report

  Towers Watson research into the pivotal role that effective change and communciation processes play in global organizations.Continue reading...

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  2011/2012 Staying@Work Report - Canada Executive Summary

  2011/2012 Staying@Work Highlights Report: A Pathway to Employee Health and Workplace ProductivityContinue reading...

• CAPSA Investment Practices Guideline, Investment Self-Assessment Questionnaire and Funding Policy Guideline

  On November 15, 2011, the Canadian Association of Pension Supervisory Authorities (CAPSA) released the following documents CAPSA Guideline No. 6 and CAPSA Guideline No. 7.Continue reading...

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  Perspectives : Incentive Plan Risk Assessment

  Incentive Plan Risk Assessment — What Canadian Companies Need to KnowContinue reading...

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  Canadian Pension Finance Watch - Third Quarter 2011

  The Towers Watson Pension Index has decreased significantly in the third quarter due to negative asset returns coupled with a decrease in the liability discount rate. The net effect on our benchmark plan was a decrease of 13.0% in the Towers Watson Pension Index (from 66.9 to 58.2) for the quarter.Continue reading...

• Division of Pension Assets on Ontario Marriage Breakdowns – Major Reforms Enacted

  The rules for dividing pension entitlements upon marriage breakdown in Ontario will soon undergo some major changes, effective for court orders or separation agreements signed after January 1, 2012.Continue reading...

• 2011 Financial Parameters Under the Quebec Public Prescription Drug Insurance Plan

  The Quebec Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr. Yves Bolduc, has announced the annual changes to the financial parameters under the Public Prescription Drug Insurance Plan (PPDIP). Effective July 1, 2011, the maximum annual premium for most insured persons decreased from $600 to $563.Continue reading...

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  2011 Pension Risk Survey Highlights

  Towers Watson conducted its eighth annual Survey on Pension Risk in March 2011, a particular focus of which was plan sponsors’ actions in dealing with the financial challenges posed by a post-crisis environment.Continue reading...

• Quebec Parental Insurance Plan Premium Rates to Increase in 2012

  The Quebec government has announced its intention to increase the premium rates for the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) by 4% effective January 1, 2012.Continue reading...

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  Canadian Pension Finance Watch — Second Quarter 2011

  The Towers Watson Pension Index has decreased in the second quarter due to negative asset returns coupled with a decrease in the liability discount rate. The net effect on our benchmark plan was a decrease of 4.6% in the Towers Watson Pension Index (from 70.1 to 66.9) for the quarter.Continue reading...

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  Global Alternatives Survey 2011

  The Global Alternatives Survey aims to track the movements of alternative assets managed on behalf of pension funds by the world’s largest alternative investment managers and to produce authoritative rankings. Continue reading...

• IASB Issues IAS 19 rev. 2011, Employee Benefits Implications for Employers' Accounting for Pensions and Other Post-retirement Benefits

  This Advisory provides an overview of the changes for companies following IFRS as well as for companies following U.S. GAAP.Continue reading...

• Manitoba Expands Enforcement Powers Under Pension Benefits Act and Paves the Way to Sign the Multi-Jurisdictional Agreement

  On May 30, 2011, the Manitoba Government introduced the Pension Benefits Amendment Act (Bill 33).Continue reading...

• Ontario and Quebec Announce Signing of Agreement Respecting Multi-Jurisdictional Pension Plans

  On May 20, 2011, the governments of Ontario and Quebec announced the signing of the Agreement Respecting Multi-Jurisdictional Pension Plans (Agreement).Continue reading...

• New Ontario Pension Regulations, Including a Simplified Test for Valuation Filing Frequency

  Ontario adopted two new regulations under the Pension Benefits Act (PBA) in May 2011. The first makes a number of amendments to the General Regulation 909 (General Regulation) under the PBA, and the second introduces a new regulation providing temporary solvency relief for certain qualifying public sector pension plans.Continue reading...

• Insurance Managers Can Ease M&A Employee Transition

  Insurance mergers and acquisitions (M&As) are on the upswing and are likely to continue to grow as the economy improves.Continue reading...

• CAPSA Issues Draft Pension Plan Funding Policy Guideline

  The Canadian Association of Pension Supervisory Authorities (CAPSA) has released a draft Pension Plan Funding Policy Guideline (Draft Guideline), which is open for review and comment until June 1, 2011.Continue reading...

• Ontario and Quebec Pay Equity – Update on Recent Developments

  Pay Equity legislation in Ontario and Quebec continues to impose important obligations on all affected organizations. In the past year there have been significant initiatives in both provinces to ensure compliance with the requirements of both Acts.Continue reading...

• Implementation of Pension Reform Measures for Federally Regulated Pension Plans

  On Friday, March 25, 2011 the Federal Minister of Finance issued Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Made Under the Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985 (Regulations).Continue reading...