On March 26, 2024, the Ontario government published their 2024 Budget, in which it was announced that draft regulations to Ontario’s Pension Benefits Act (PBA) would be introduced for review in the summer of 2024, with the...more
On November 30, 2023, the federal government introduced Bill C-59, Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2023 (Bill C-59), which included proposed amendments to the Income Tax Act (Canada) (ITA) to implement changes...more
On June 22, 2023, Bill C-47 received royal assent, implementing a variety of amendments to the Income Tax Act (Canada) (ITA) and its regulations (ITA Regulations) tabled as part of the 2023 Federal Budget. As we previously...more
Retirement compensation arrangements (RCAs) are, in appropriate circumstances, a useful tool for employers to provide supplemental pension benefits to employees, but such arrangements come at a cost of refundable tax under...more
On November 14, 2022, Ontario introduced Progress on the Plan to Build Act (Budget Measures), 2022 (Bill 36) to implement certain budget measures introduced as part of Ontario's 2022 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal...more
In Rayonier v Unifor, Locals 256 and 89 arbitrator Paula Knopf dismissed a union policy grievance which alleged that an age 65 cut-off for long-term disability (LTD) benefits coverage under the parties' collective bargaining...more
On June 9, 2022, the Canadian Association of Pension Supervisory Authorities (CAPSA) published consultation drafts of pension plan guidelines covering environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations, as well as...more
What You Need to Know About Draft Amendments to the Federal Income Tax Act and Regulations -
On February 4, 2022, the Canadian federal government released draft legislation to implement a variety of proposed tax measures,...more
On October 18, 2021, the Ontario Court of Appeal released its decision in Battiston v Microsoft Canada Inc., 2021 ONCA 727, in which it overturned the trial court's finding that termination provisions in a stock award...more
In response to the recent market declines and interruptions to businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic, federal and provincial pension regulators have announced measures to provide relief to sponsors and administrators of...more
Recent Updates -
September 29, 2020: Changes made to Ontario to reflect Regulation 520/20 filed under the Pension Benefits Act (amending Regulation 909) which provides funding relief to pension plans, and Regulation 521/20...more
Effective May 27, 2020, new Solvency Special Payments Relief Regulations, 2020 issued under the Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985 provide funding relief to sponsors of federally regulated pension plans with solvency...more
On May 22, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) provided additional COVID-19 pandemic related guidance for administrators and sponsors of Ontario registered pension plans as an update to the...more
On May 5, 2020, the Registered Plans Directorate (RPD) of the Canada Revenue Agency announced COVID-19 pandemic-related relief and guidance for plan sponsors and administrators....more
On April 15, 2020, the Finance Minister, Bill Morneau announced that the government will provide immediate, temporary relief to sponsors of federally regulated defined benefit (DB) pension plans. This relief will be in the...more
In response to the recent market declines and interruptions to businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the provincial pension regulators in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia have announced additional relief measures...more
On March 25, 2020, the Canadian government announced the creation of a temporary program called the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) to address the overwhelming number of Employment Insurance (EI) applications...more
The unusual circumstances brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic are pushing businesses, individuals and governmental authorities, including pension regulators, to quickly adapt to changing restrictions and capabilities....more