Seeking Certainty in Uncertain Times: A Review of Recent Government-Sponsored Studies on the Regulation of Canadian Pension Plans (Report)

THE STUDY IN BRIEF The need for reform of the regulation and design of workplace pensions for Canadians sparked three major provincial reviews by Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia, and Nova Scotia between November 2008 and January 2009. The provincial inquiries were motivated by such issues as declining coverage, the financial problems of defined-benefit plans, the emergence of hybrid alternative plan designs, the lack of harmonization and a common legal framework, and unresolved legal and regulatory issues. This Commentary compares and contrasts the three reports' treatment of these and other pension issues, and makes recommendations for reform.