December 2017

04Dec

Income Adequacy Among Canadian Seniors: Helping Singles Most

By Philip Bazel (University of Calgary - The School of Public Policy) & Jack Mintz (University of Calgary - The School of Public Policy; CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute)) Canadians have heard a great deal of discussion in the national media about expanding the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), driven by concerns that many will retire without having made proper arrangements to adequately replace their incomes with pensions and savings. But the proposed remedies have been targeted at...

December 4, 2017
Aging, Articles, Labor Market, Pension design, , , ,
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November 2017

23Nov

World Bank report shines spotlight on Canadian pension model

Canadian public pension funds and pension plans are regarded as among the best in the world, but they underwent an evolution of changes to get to where they are today. Because of their success, the World Bank Group partnered with four Canadian pension funds, Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo), Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ), Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP), and OPTrust, as well as the Government of Ontario on a report that studies the evolution...

November 23, 2017
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23Nov

Why Canadian pension plans must divest of fossil fuel investments

Combatting climate change hinges on divestment of fossil fuels across all spheres of activity. According to scientists, we are facing an impending disaster if we do not stop burning fossil fuels. Therefore, companies must reduce their carbon footprint to net zero, and carbon-based firms that cannot or refuse to change must wind down. Communities with significant economic dependence on firms that refuse to change must invest in and attract clean sustainable industries instead. Communities have to act now so as to...

November 23, 2017
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21Nov

Bitcoin and Blockchain Aren’t Investible Yet, Canada Pension Says

Mark Machin, the head of Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, said he doesn’t think the bitcoin and blockchain space is “investible” yet, but the country’s largest pension fund is monitoring it with interest. "We’re watching it,” Machin said in a speech Monday. “I don’t think it’s institutionally investible yet. It’s really early days and there’s going to be lots of disruption." He said CPPIB has more than 100 people at its offices in Toronto watching the space carefully. Most investors are...

November 21, 2017
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21Nov

Canada Pension Plan is safe for generations, says CEO of investment board

In his travels to every province and one territory over the last 17 months, British-born Mark Machin was struck most by one thing about Canadians. “There’s still this myth that’s circulating that the Canada Pension Plan won’t be there when you retire,” said the CEO of the CPP Investment Board, the largest pension fund in the country that manages a $328-billion investment portfolio on behalf of 20 million Canadian workers and retirees. “You ask the average person — stop anyone on...

November 21, 2017
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12Nov

Rethinking Limits on Tax-Deferred Retirement Savings in Canada

By William B. P. Robson (C.D. Howe Institute) Tax rules limiting the amount of tax deferral available to Canadians in various retirement saving vehicles need some measure of equivalency among them. Since 1990 this measure has been the Factor of Nine, based on the proposition that saving 9 percent of annual earnings will let a person buy a retirement annuity equal to 1 percent of pre-retirement income. A quarter century later, the flaws in the Factor of Nine are glaring...

November 12, 2017
Articles, Pension design, Regulation, ,
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07Nov

Canada. NDP MP proposes changes to insolvency laws to improve pension protections

An Ontario backbench member of Parliament tabled a bill Monday to amend Canada's insolvency laws so they offer more protections to pension plans, post-retirement benefits and severance when a company is in deep financial trouble. The treatment of pensions during court-supervised restructurings has been a long-simmering issue but has attracted new attention since Sears Canada sought protection under the Companies Creditors Arrangement Act in July. In addition to ending post-retirement health benefits and severance payments immediately, Sears Canada's collapse meant future...

November 7, 2017
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03Nov

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Sells 364,200 Shares of Bank of Nova Scotia (The) (BNS)

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board cut its position in shares of Bank of Nova Scotia (The) (NYSE:BNS) (TSE:BNS) by 15.7% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,948,274 shares of the bank’s stock after selling 364,200 shares during the quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board owned approximately 0.16% of Bank of Nova Scotia (The) worth $124,936,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors...

November 3, 2017
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October 2017
20Oct

Expanding Canada Pension Plan Retirement Benefits: Assessing Big CPP Proposals

By Jonathan Rhys Kesselman (Simon Fraser University School of Public Policy) Current and growing deficiencies in many workers’ ability to maintain their accustomed living standards in retirement have evoked varied proposals for reform of Canada’s retirement income system. This study focuses on proposals for expanding the retirement benefits of the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), and undertakes comparative analysis with proposals for reforms affecting workplace pensions and individual savings. It begins by reviewing key policy questions for the retirement income system...

October 20, 2017
Articles, Corporate Governance, Pension design, Savings, ,
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20Oct

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Has $102.31 Million Position in Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX)

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board lifted its position in Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) by 7.9% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,754,607 shares of the coffee company’s stock after acquiring an additional 128,675 shares during the quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board owned approximately 0.12% of Starbucks Corporation worth $102,311,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge...

October 20, 2017
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