In today’s budget, the Ontario government announced that it is continuing with its pension reform agenda, but it is not all “old news”. Perhaps of most interest to employers and plan administrators will be the government’s intention to review the implications of the recent Carrigan case and its expanded interest in alternative plan designs.
Category Archives: Public Sector Plans
Subscribe to Public Sector Plans RSS FeedRatansi: Court Clarifies Treatment of Employees Who Are Transferred as Part of Transaction
Posted in Canada Pensions & Benefits Law, Legislation & Regulations, Public Sector Plans, Sale of BusinessThe Ontario Divisional Court’s recent judgment in Ontario Pension Board v. Ratansi has overturned an earlier decision of the Financial Services Tribunal and restored an understanding established by previous Tribunal precedents. Employees who have transferred to a new employer as a part of a sale of business or divestment are not entitled to receive pension… Continue Reading
FSCO Instructions for MEPPs & JSPPs Looking to Opt Out of Grow-In Benefits Now
Posted in Canada Pensions & Benefits Law, Pension Reform, Public Sector PlansThe Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) has posted information for jointly sponsored pension plans (JSPPs) and multi-employer pension plans (MEPPs) which are planning to opt out of the new grow-in benefit regime. Of particular note, these plans may file notice of their election with the Superintendent of Financial Services before July 1, 2012, though… Continue Reading
Ontario Releases Long-Awaited Draft Pension Regulations
Posted in Canada Pensions & Benefits Law, Legislation & Regulations, Pension Reform, Plan Wind-Ups, Public Sector Plans, SurplusAlmost two years after passing its initial amendments to the Ontario Pension Benefits Act (the PBA) in Bill 236 and Bill 120, the Ontario government has released the first round of regulations required to implement its pension reform agenda. The regulations, which are in draft form and subject to public consultation, address a number of… Continue Reading
Ontario Government Announces Consultation with Public Sector Plans
Posted in Canada Pensions & Benefits Law, DB Plan Funding, Public Sector PlansFollowing up on its 2012 budget, the Ontario government announced that it will begin consultations on a new legislative framework for jointly sponsored public sector pension plans (JSPPs). As the government indicated previously, their focus is to make public sector pension plans "more sustainable for members and more affordable for taxpayers.” In addition, the Ontario… Continue Reading
Ontario Budget: Implications for Private and Public Sector Pensions
Posted in Canada Pensions & Benefits Law, DB Plan Funding, Innovation & Plan Design, Legislation & Regulations, Pension Reform, Plan Administration, Public Sector PlansThe Ontario government’s 2012 Budget, released yesterday, includes a number of announcements which will be of interest to administrators of both private and public sector pension plans. Some Good News for Private Sector Employers The government recognized that as a result of ongoing market volatility and low interest rates many private sector defined benefit plans… Continue Reading
New Brunswick Court Rules on Proposed Amendments to Eliminate Indexing
Posted in Canada Pensions & Benefits Law, Plan Administration, Public Sector PlansAs a result of today’s difficult economic times, many employers are evaluating their retirement programs and considering how they can reduce benefits. The decision of the New Brunswick Court of Queen’s Bench in Quinn v. New Brunswick (Minister of Finance) contains guidance on the common law analysis to be applied when considering a potential option… Continue Reading
Ontario Makes Changes to Pension Funding Requirements
Posted in Canada Pensions & Benefits Law, DB Plan Funding, Legislation & Regulations, Pension Reform, Public Sector PlansThe Ontario government recently filed regulations under the Pension Benefits Act (the PBA), which implement funding changes for jointly sponsored pension plans (JSPPs) and certain public sector plans, as well as more general changes applicable to all defined benefit (DB) plans.
Ontario Court of Appeal Reminds Those Communicating with Plan Members of Fiduciary Duties
Posted in Canada Pensions & Benefits Law, Plan Administration, Public Sector PlansAnother recent decision of the Ontario Court of Appeal, in Ault v. Canada, has continued the trend in jurisprudence to hold plan administrators and others who are responsible for communicating with pension plan members to a very high fiduciary standard, including a legal duty to disclose accurate information about the implications of any elections made by members.
Reduction of Supplementary Death Benefits Based on Age Does Not Infringe Charter
Posted in Canada Pensions & Benefits Law, Plan Administration, Public Sector PlansThe Supreme Court of Canada has affirmed decisions by the British Columbia Supreme Court and Court of Appeal that provisions of the Public Service Superannuation Act (PSSA) and the Canadian Forces Superannuation Act (CFSA), which reduce a supplementary death benefit (SDB) based on the member’s age at the time of death, do not infringe section 15… Continue Reading
Ontario Announces Temporary Solvency Funding Relief for Public Sector Plans
Posted in Canada Pensions & Benefits Law, DB Plan Funding, Pension Reform, Public Sector PlansLate last week, the Ontario government announced that it would provide temporary solvency funding relief to certain public sector and broader public sector (BPS) pension plans. Obtaining such relief, however, will not be an easy matter. The government has made it clear that in an effort to ensure that these plans are sustainable in the… Continue Reading
Supreme Court of Canada to Consider Whether Pension Plan Benefits Based on Age are Contrary to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Posted in Canada Pensions & Benefits Law, Plan Administration, Public Sector PlansLater this month, the Supreme Court of Canada will hear an appeal from the British Columbia Court of Appeal’s decision in Withler v. Canada. The issue in Withler is whether a supplementary death benefit under a pension plan that is reduced for every year the plan member’s age exceeds a specified age violates the right… Continue Reading