2019

Quebec is currently moving forward with a four-page mini-bill entitled An Act amending certain Acts establishing public sector pension plans (Bill 38). Page 4 of the bill is the most interesting, because it allows employees who have retired from the government to return to work for the government and continue to receive their pension, which was not possible before.

On March 8, 2019, the Financial Services Commission of Ontario released a Frequently Asked Question document summarizing key points on the new funding rules for single employer defined benefit pension plans registered in Ontario, which came into effect on May 1, 2018.

On March 8, 2019, the Financial Services Commission of Ontario released a Frequently Asked Question document summarizing key points on the new discharge for the purchase of a pension for a former or retired defined benefit pension plan member where certain conditions under the Ontario Pension Benefits Act and Regulation 193/18 have been met.

On April 11, 2019, the Ontario Ministry of Finance posted two proposed regulations affecting pension plans. One draft regulation sets out rules for the payment of variable benefits to Ontario retired members from the defined contribution provision of a pension plan.

Union of Canadian Correctional Officers UCCA-SACC-CSN v Canada, 2018 QCCS 2539

Three key pieces of legislation were passed in the past 12 months, each of which made certain amendments to the Ontario Pension Benefits Act

A 2018 interim decision of the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario in Talos v Grand Erie District School Board saw the tribunal refuse to enforce the exception in the Human Rights Code that permits employers to terminate benefit coverage for active employees at age 65 on the basis that the provision offended the equality guarantee under the Charter.

On November 13, 2018, the Financial Services Commission of Ontario issued a guideline that summarizes legislative provisions respecting administrative monetary penalties under the Pension Benefits Act and outlines the process that is to be followed for the imposition of AMPs. It also outlines how a person subject to a proposed AMP may dispute it, and how AMPs are to be paid.

On November 1, 2018, the Canadian Association of Pension Supervisory Authorities issued for public comment a newly revised draft Guideline No. 2 – Electronic Communications in the Pension Industry.

On June 20, 2018, the Advisory Council on the Implementation of National Pharmacare released a discussion paper on options for a national pharmacare model.