Publications
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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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Should Pension Benefits be Deducted from Damages for Wrongful Dismissal? The Supreme Court of Canada Rules
On December 13, 2013, the Supreme Court of Canada rendered its judgment in the case of IBM Canada Limited v. Waterman (2013 SCC 70). In this case, IBM wrongly dismissed Mr. Waterman, a long-time employee. Mr. Waterman had to begin collecting his pension under IBM’s defined benefit pension (…)
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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 theory of contractual repudiation does not apply to employment contracts
Can an employee’s insubordination amount to repudiation of his employment contract, thus providing his employer with just and sufficient cause to dismiss him? In a judgment rendered on September 20, 2013, the Québec Court of Appeal answered this question in the negative.1The plaintiff, (…)
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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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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 (…)