It has been an exceptional time for pensions and employee benefits in the face of adversity. The pandemic has magnified challenges but also offered opportunities in virtually every aspect of plans affecting employees, beneficiaries, employers, plan sponsors and administrators.
When I wrote to you in November, I noted that the Executive Committee has an ambitious mission of increasing Section membership by providing value to members. Again, we are aiming to engage new lawyers throughout the CBA. We want to hear from you!
Check out our webpage to find out more about the resources available, our submissions on pension standards reform, and Section member articles.
New LinkedIn Page
The Section has a new LinkedIn page! The page allows us to broaden our reach and increase our communication efforts to our Section and beyond. Please follow us, share information and tag anyone in your network.
If you already belong to our previous LinkedIn group, please transfer to receive the latest news and updates. Notices will also be posted within the group.
We continue building our content to provide value to our members and you can help! Sign up to write an article or case/regulatory comment for posting on our Section webpage.
Advocacy Work
As in previous years, representatives of the Section attended meetings with Finance Canada, the Canada Revenue Agency and the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions. The Executive shared ideas and discussed emerging trends and challenges in the pension sector and provided input on current issues.
Your Executive is scheduling a meeting with the Canadian Association of Pension Supervisory Authorities for the coming spring. Last year’s agenda included funding policies, environmental, social and governance considerations for pension investments and updated guidelines for capital accumulation plans.
Send us your ideas for discussion topics by March 31, 2022 to be considered for our meeting, but your input is welcome anytime. We look forward to hearing from you.
Professional Development
Our Section is committed to providing quality education for members. Register now for our upcoming webinar on pension and benefit damages in wrongful dismissal cases on April 27, 2022, with collaboration from the CBA Labour and Employment Law Section.
There will also be an introduction to pension law webinar on October 5, 2022. Let us know if you have any suggestions for future sessions.
Volunteer
Consider volunteering to join one of our various committees doing work in advocacy and government relations, outreach and communications, and professional development. We value diversity and keep it in mind for the composition of our committees. Join a Committee!
Best regards,
Level Y.Y. Chan
Chair, CBA Pensions and Benefits Law Section and the 2021-2022 Executive