In its 2024 budget on Tuesday, the federal government announced a new working group dedicated to encouraging increased domestic investments by Canadian institutional investors. Former Bank of Canada governor Stephen Poloz is being tasked to lead an organization that will identify priority investment opportunities in the country for the more than $3 trillion held by […] The post Feds seeking to boost domestic investments by Canadian institutional investors: budget appeared first on Benefits Canada.com ..read more

In its 2024-25 annual plan, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario is focusing on assessing and mitigating systemic and high-priority risks in the province’s defined benefit pension plan sector. The regulatory body will review and enhance its supervisory framework to strengthen supervision of large public sector pension plans, ensuring its plan amendments and surplus […] The post FSRA focusing on target-benefit framework for MEPPs, sustainability of PBGF in 2024-25 annual plan appeared first on Benefits Canada.com ..read more

Data centres are becoming an important asset for institutional investors seeking to diversify their real estate portfolios. The data centre asset class was valued at an estimated US$301.8 billion as of 2023, according to researcher P&S Intelligence, which also noted the value is expected to increase to US$622.4 billion by the end of 2030. Indeed, […] The post Demand for data centres rising as institutional investors seek to diversify real estate portfolios: expert appeared first on Benefits Canada.com ..read more

The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec is reporting $53 billion in low-carbon assets, including $15 billion in Quebec, representing an overall increase of $35 billion in low-carbon assets since 2017, according to the investment organization’s latest sustainable investing report. It found the investment organization has more than $330 billion in assets with a […] The post Caisse reports more than $53 billion in low-carbon assets appeared first on Benefits Canada.com ..read more

The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board is expanding the role of its wholly owned subsidiary Reventus Power as its dedicated global offshore wind platform. The investment organization will consolidate its existing direct and indirect offshore wind holdings into Reventus Power to build on the business’ existing global footprint and support the sector’s significant growth opportunities. To […] The post CPPIB expands role of global offshore wind platform appeared first on Benefits Canada.com ..read more

An article on how remote and hybrid working arrangements are leading to a ‘Great Exhaustion’ was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the past week: 1. Rise of remote, hybrid working leading employees to a ‘Great Exhaustion,’ says expert 2. Sounding Board: How employers can create […] The post Top 5 HR, benefits, pension and investment stories of the week appeared first on Benefits Canada.com ..read more

As I write this column, I’m reflecting on the spectrum of weather I’ve witnessed this past winter. From my office window in southwestern Ontario, I looked out onto snowy rooftops for maybe a week over the last several months. That’s contrasted with a recent trip to Nova Scotia, where a series of winter storms brought […] The post Editorial: Turning challenge into opportunity appeared first on Benefits Canada.com ..read more

An academic says environmental, social and governance terminology should evolve alongside understanding of the concept, while a consultant favours a focus on substance over form. Amir Akbari, assistant professor of finance, McMaster University As our understanding of sustainable development evolves, so, too, should our characterization of responsible investment. For instance, consider the United Nation’s Kunming-Montreal Global […] The post Head to Head: Is it time to change the terminology around ESG? appeared first on Benefits Canada.com ..read more

A growing wave of opposition to environmental, social and governance factors has turned life in the sustainable finance industry into something of a roller coaster over the last couple of years. But a little turbulence is to be expected, says Alyson Slater, managing director of sustainable investment at Manulife Investment Management, encouraging institutional investors to […] The post How will growing anti-ESG sentiment in the U.S. impact Canadian institutional investors? appeared first on Benefits Canada.com ..read more

As an institutional investor, Asif Haque knows the Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology Pension Plan has a responsibility to meet the rising challenge of climate change through responsible capital deployment. “[We] have a gigantic role to play in using our ownership and influence to engage with companies on their transition to a low-carbon future,” […] The post How the CAAT is supporting its ESG aspirations through responsible investments, team-building appeared first on Benefits Canada.com ..read more