Draft Regulations Governing Transfers and Conversions to JSPPs under Sections 80.4 and 81.0.1 of Pension Benefits Act Published

On June 26, 2015, the Ontario government published draft regulations (the “Draft Regulations”) setting out the proposed rules governing the merger or conversion of single employer pension plans (“SEPPs”) to jointly sponsored pension plans (“JSPPs”) in the broader public sector (“BPS”). The draft regulations will support sections 80.4 and 81.0.1 of the Pension Benefits Act…

Ontario Proposes PBA Regulations For Merging or Converting SEPPs into JSPPs

On January 20, 2015, the Ontario government released proposed new regulations (“proposed Regulations”) under the Pension Benefits Act (“PBA”) for public comment. The proposed Regulations are designed to facilitate the merger of broader public sector (“BPS”) single employer pension plans (“SEPPs”) and jointly-sponsored pensions plans (“JSPPs”), either through (a) a transfer from the SEPPs to…

Ontario Budget 2014

On Monday, July 14, 2014, the newly elected Liberal government introduced the 2014 Ontario Budget. As was pledged by Premier Wynne during the election campaign, the new Budget is virtually identical to the version that was first tabled on Thursday, May 1, 2014 (and which triggered the recent election). The newly tabled Budget is still…

Ontario Tables Its 2013 Budget

On Thursday May 2, 2013, the Ontario government introduced its 2013 Budget, entitled A Prosperous and Fair Ontario (the “Budget”). The government also introduced Bill 65, the Prosperous and Fair Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2013 (“Bill 65”), omnibus legislation designed to implement some of the proposals contained in the Budget. The Budget announced that the…

Ontario Files BPS Solvency Funding Relief, JSPP Funding Rules and Filing of Actuarial Valuations Regulation

On June 22, 2012, the Ontario government filed O. Reg 164/12 made under the Pension Benefits Act, amending Regulation 909 (General). Generally speaking, plan administrators are required to file actuarial valuations within nine months from the date of the valuation. O. Reg 164/12 provides an extension to the window for filing actuarial valuations in accordance…

Implementation of Key Ontario Pension Reform Measures is Imminent

On April 30, 2012 and May 3, 2012, the Ontario Ministry of Finance issued two separate draft regulations that propose changes to the general Regulation 909 under the Ontario Pension Benefits Act (the “PBA Regulations”). Together, these two draft regulations are referred to in this FTR Now as the “Draft Regulations.” As discussed in our…

Ontario Budget – Highlights for Employers

On Tuesday, March 27, the Ontario Government introduced its 2012 Budget, which is entitled Strong Action for Ontario (the “Budget”). The Government also introduced Bill 55, the Strong Action for Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2012 (“Bill 55”), omnibus legislation designed to implement a number of the proposals contained in the Budget. The Budget sets out…

The Drummond Report – Impact on the Broader Public Sector

On February 15, 2012, the Commission on the Reform of Ontario’s Public Services (the “Commission”) released its long-awaited, 543-page report (the “Report”, commonly referred to as the “Drummond Report”) which identifies sweeping reform measures aimed at increasing efficiencies within the broader public service (“BPS”). In our companion FTR Now, Drummond Commission Reports on Elementary and…

Pension Benefits Act JSPP Amendments Come Into Force June 1, 2011

June 1, 2011 has been named as the day on which subsections 1 (9) and 3 (3) and section 16 of Bill 120, the Securing Pension Benefits Now and for the Future Act, 2010, come into force. These provisions relate to the recently reported filing of O. Reg. 177/11, and specifically, the change affecting jointly-sponsored…