Publications
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How will the Superior Court of Québec deal with pension laws from Newfoundland and Labrador, Québec and the Parliament?
On January 30, 2017, Justice Stephen W. Hamilton issued an interlocutory decision1 in the context of a motion for directions, the outcome of which will be most interesting. On May 19, 2015, the debtors, Wabush Iron Co. Limited, Wabush Resources Inc., Wabush Mines, Arnaud Railway Company and Wabush (…)
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Employers, the VRSP: Ring any Bells?
On July 1, 2014, most of the provisions of the Voluntary Retirement Savings Plans Act1 (the “VRSP Act”) came into effect. At the time, this raised questions in the minds of numerous employers about their obligations under this new law. Since a first group of employers had until December 31, 2016 to (…)
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Artificial Intelligence and the 2017 Canadian Budget: is your business ready?
The March 22, 2017 Budget of the Government of Canada, through its “Innovation and Skills Plan” (http://www.budget.gc.ca/2017/docs/plan/budget-2017-en.pdf) mentions that Canadian academic and research leadership in artificial intelligence will be translated into a more innovative economy and (…)
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Pension plans and their investment rules: investing in alternative investment funds in full compliance
Numerous pension plans today are among the largest investors of capital in private equity, venture capital and hedge funds.1 In many cases, such pension plans hold assets valued in the tens or hundreds of millions of dollars (or even more) consisting of various categories and sub-categories of (…)
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Use of “private” mutual fund trusts for employee’ investments through an RRSP
An increasing number of employers are looking at the possibility of creating investment vehicles to allow their employees to make investments in the employer corporation or a portfolio managed by the employer that will qualify for inclusion in, inter alia, registered retirement savings plans (RRSP), (…)
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Bill 15 decisions: where do we stand?
The Act to Foster the Financial Health and Sustainability of Municipal Defined Benefit Pension Plans (“Bill 15”) was passed on December 5, 2014. The subject of much debate during the parliamentary sessions before its passing, much has been written about Bill 15 since it has come into force. It (…)
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Pension plans, the charter and disparity in treatment clauses the Court of Appeal issues its judgment in the Groupe Pages Jaunes case
The financial burden and the risks inherent in defined benefit supplemental pension plans sometimes weigh heavily on employers. In the last few years, many employers have taken measures and made changes in order to lower the costs related to these plans. Some employers have also decided to make (…)
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Does the federal pension deemed trust outrank a perfected security interest in the context of CCAA proceedings? The Superior Court of Québec weighs in
In the last few years, pension deemed trust issues have been a subject of debate before the courts. The Supreme Court of Canada itself addressed some of these issues in the Indalex case.1 On November 20, 2013, the Honourable Justice Mark Schrager of the Superior Court of Québec rendered an important (…)
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Quebec Government Tables Bill to Implement its Pension Plan Action Plan
In our January 2014 bulletin, we provided an overview of the Quebec government’s action plan aimed at [Translation] “correcting and restoring the situation of pension plans”. Also in that bulletin, we noted that in February 2014, the government was planning to introduce the first (…)
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Pension Plans and Class Actions: the Vivendi case
On January 16, 2014, the Supreme Court of Canada1 affirmed the Court of Appeal of Québec2 judgment which authorized the class action brought against Vivendi Canada Inc. (“Vivendi”). This important decision confirms, among other things, that the rules for authorizing class actions in (…)
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The Quebec Government's Action Plan for Making Pension Plans Equitable and Sustainable
Last December, the Minister of Employment and Social Solidarity unveiled the Quebec government's action plan with the goal of [translation] "correcting and restoring the situation of pension plans". In this document, the government made the following main announcements: that the (…)
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Québec solidaire MNAs Table a Bill to Prohibit “Grandfather Clauses” with respect to Pension Plans and Group Insurance Plans
On December 4, 2013, Québec solidaire MNAs Amir Khadir and Françoise David tabled a bill (Bill 499) in the National Assembly which seeks to amend the provisions of the Act Respecting Labour Standards (ARLS) dealing with clauses which provide for differential treatment based solely on one’s (…)
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New Developments Regarding Pension Plans: Relief Measures Extended and the Passing of Bill 39 on Voluntary Retirement Savings Plans
RELIEF MEASURES EXTENSIONOn November 27, 2013, the Government of Québec published the Regulation Providing New Relief Measures for the Funding of Solvency Deficiencies of Pension Plans in the Private Sector (the “New Regulation”), which will come into effect on December 31, 2013.The New (…)
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The Committee on Public Finance presents its views on the D’Amours Report
On September 17, 2013, after holding special consultations in June and August 2013,1 the Committee on Public Finance published its conclusions and recommendations on the report of the Expert Committee regarding the future of the Quebec Retirement System (the “D’Amours Report”). (…)
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The Supreme Court rules in Indalex: DIP lenders rank ahead of pension beneficiaries in CCAA Restructuring
On February 1, 2013, the Supreme Court overturned a controversial decision of the Ontario Court of Appeal which granted pension beneficiaries priority over DIP lenders in the context of a restructuring under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (“CCAA”).1 The Court of (…)
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Francization – Bill No 14 amending the Charter of the French language
This publication was authored by Luc Thibaudeau, former partner of Lavery and now judge in the Civil Division of the Court of Québec, District of Longueuil. The title of this newsletter gives a good summary of the explanatory notes that serve as an introduction to Bill 14, entitled An Act to amend (…)
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The Supreme Court of Canada will hear the Vivendi case
On August 9, 2012, the Supreme Court of Canada granted the application for leave to appeal filed by Vivendi Canada Inc. against the decision rendered in February 2012 by the Québec Court of Appeal. This decision authorized Mr. Michel Dell’Aniello to bring a class action against Vivendi Canada (…)
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The Court of Appeal authorizes retirees' class action against Vivendi
On February 29, 2012, the Quebec Court of Appeal reversed the judgment of the Quebec Superior Court that had dismissed the motion to authorize the bringing of a class action filed by Mr. Michel Dell’Aniello (“Dell’Aniello”) in connection with changes made unilaterally by (…)
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The Superior Court orders the Régie des Rentes du Québec to Register Adverse Amendments
On September 9, 2011, the Quebec Superior Court allowed an application for judicial review of Synertech Moulded Products, Division of Old Castle Building (« Synertech ») and quashed two judgments rendered by the Economic Affairs Section of the Tribunal administratif du Québec (Quebec (…)
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Quarterly legal newsletter intended for accounting, management, and finance professionals, Number 14
Defined Benefit Pension Plans : The Temporary Funding Relief Measures will Likely be Extended! A New Statutory Framework for Federal Not-for-profit Organizations Conversion of Debt into Shares by a Corporation in Financial Difficulty; Pay Attention to the Tax Consequences Conflicting (…)
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The Supreme Court of Canada issues its judgment in the Burke case
On October 7, 2010, the Supreme Court of Canada rendered its judgment in the Burke v. Hudson’s Bay Co. case. The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal brought by certain former employees and confirmed the judgment rendered by the Ontario Court of Appeal.
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Class Actions : The Court says no to retirees
Last August 3, the Superior Court of Québec dismissed the motion for authorization to institute a class action filed by Mr. Michel Dell’Aniello against Vivendi Canada Inc. This decision deals with two subjects of interest, namely, unilateral changes made by an employer to the group insurance (…)
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The Régie and the TAQ reject adverse amendments made to a pension plan
On July 28, 2010, the Tribunal administratif du Québec confirmed a decision of the Régie des rentes du Québec which had refused to register adverse amendments made to a pension plan despite the consent given to the amendments by the sole member of the plan.
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The Member-Funded Pension Plan : a Defined Benefit Pension Plan that Limits the Employer’s Financial Risk
The decision of an employer to offer a pension plan to its employees is an important one. Various types of pension plans may be offered, and the financial risk of the employer depends on the type of plan chosen.While union and employees generally prefer defined benefit pension plans, employers are (…)
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Legal newsletter for business entrepreneurs and executives, Number 3
The member-funded pension plan: a defined benefit pension plan that limits the employer’s financial risk Doing business with the government: a question of transparency Your company and the influenza H1N1 flu pandemic
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Recent developments in pension plans: Reform of federal plans / New Quebec regulation respecting Bill 30
On October 27th, the Minister of Finance announced an important plan to reform federally regulated pension plans. According to the Minister, the Government is proposing “a balanced package of measures for the benefit of pension plan sponsors, plan members and retirees.”Other recent news: (…)