On October 4, 2023, the Government of B.C. introduced Bill 33: Pension Benefits Standards Amendment Act, 2023. The proposed amendments set the table for defined contribution plans in B.C. to offer a new option for …
October 16th, 2023
July 28th, 2023
Regulator Guidance on Climate Change Risks
Most investment industry participants seem to be hopping aboard the ESG train lately with the most popular destination being climate change risk. The latest such example is BCFSA[1]’s consultation paper on Natural Catastrophe and Climate-Related …
October 5th, 2022
B.C. Target Benefit Plans: PfAD Changes Effective December 31, 2022
Our last post on the topic of Target Benefit Plan (TBP) PfADs was in early 2021, noting that temporary relief had been approved by the B.C. government. We also noted that a Working Group had …
January 6th, 2021
B.C. Target Benefit Plans: PfAD Suspension Effective December 31, 2019
While it may have gotten lost in the run-up to holiday season, the Order in Council passed on December 18, 2020 to suspend the application of the PfAD to B.C.’s roughly 40 target benefit plans …
January 13th, 2020
Should I Take My Commuted Value? Interest Rates, Mortality Tables and Their Effect on Commuted Values
We are often asked by members whether or not they should take their commuted value as a lump sum payout upon termination. Many of these members desire to have control over the investment of their …
December 16th, 2019
New B.C. Defined Benefit Funding Rules and Single Employer Target Benefit Plans
Last week the B.C. government announced new defined benefit (DB) plan funding rules that take effect December 31, 2019. Some might say that these changes have been long overdue given that the past regime’s heavy …
July 5th, 2018
Supreme Court Reaches Decision in ICBA Case
On July 3, 2018, the Supreme Court of British Columbia completed its judicial review of a prior decision by the Information and Privacy Commissioner of B.C. to release certain information to the Independent Contractors and …
July 19th, 2016
Making Sense of the Proposed Enhancements to the Canada Pension Plan
Every province except Quebec agreed in principle to a deal on June 20, 2016 that will eventually improve the Canada Pension Plan. The deal is still subject to final approval. The proposed changes target low …
April 6th, 2016
CPP Enhancement – An Idea Whose Time has Come?
Background The new Liberal federal government has already met with the provinces to initiate discussions of enhancing the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). This was one of their campaign promises. The former Harper government had refused …
January 28th, 2016
The George & Bell Team is Growing
George & Bell is pleased to announce a new addition to our team. Jian Zhang, a fully qualified actuary with 8 years of experience, has joined our firm as a Consultant. Jian has primarily worked …