Certificate in Canadian Benefit Plans

Overview of the Canadian Business Environment

This session provides a general overview of the Canadian business environment,

including:

• Unique issues in the workforce—Demographics and culture

• The employment environment

• The Canadian labour market

• Canadian workforce challenges.

Canadian Employment Law, Legislation and Human Rights

Gain an overview of key employment standards and human rights legislation essential for conducting business in Canada. Topics include:

• Minimum employment standards for exempt/nonexempt employees, hours, overtime, vacation and leaves
• Best practices for recruitment, hiring and managing employment relationships
• Termination requirements, including notice and severance
• Labour relations and collective bargaining
• Human rights considerations such as accommodations and protected statuses (e.g., disability, family status, political affiliation)
• Key distinctions between Canadian and U.S. human rights provisions
• Special benefits for temporary workers.

Canadian Health Care System Part 1

Learn more about the structure and principles of Canada’s health care system and how it compares to the system in the U.S. Key differences are outlined, including a look at the private-public trajectory, access to health care and how employer-provided health care plans are harmonized with government programs in each country.

Canadian Health Care System Part 2: Employer Group Benefits

Get up to date quickly on:

• What a typical employer-sponsored group benefit plan looks like in Canada
• Group benefit plan types, including flex plans and health care spending accounts
• The cost of basic life insurance, AD&D, extended health care and dental benefits
• Cost-containment and benefit management techniques
• How group benefits are priced and key underwriting principles.

Best Practices in Canadian Employee Benefit Plans

In this session, participants will gain insights into the recommended approaches that organizations and employers should consider when dealing with the changing realm of employee benefits. They will learn how to make well-informed choices, tailor their communications to suit the unique requirements of their workforce and effectively optimize the value of their investments in the benefits offerings.

Case Study: Managing Benefits Change

Learn from real-life examples how to manage benefits changes effectively, including getting buy-in and communicating with all strategic partners.

Canadian Retirement System and Pension Fundamentals

Explore the Canadian retirement landscape, including employer-sponsored pension plans and their regulatory framework across provinces. Key topics include:

• Government programs, such as the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS)
• Private retirement savings options, such as registered retirement savings plans (RRSPs) and tax-free savings accounts (TFSAs)
• Types of retirement plans, including defined contribution (DC), defined benefit (DB), target benefit, deferred profit-sharing and hybrid plans
• Legal considerations, recent key decisions shaping Canada’s pension environment, and employer responsibilities and limitations.

Disability Provisions and Practices

Obtain an overview of the disability benefits landscape in Canada as well as the various programs and benefits available to employees. Topics featured in this session include:

• Income replacement programs
• Integration of public and private disability programs and benefits
• Group disability plans
• Cost drivers and cost containment.

Canadian Drug Benefit Practices

The design and management of Canadian drug plans are unique because employers are only responsible for a portion of the overall health costs. This session covers:

• Private market dynamics
• Private insurance coverage in Canada
• Drug plan designs and adjudication
• Future trends.

Navigating Québec’s Pension Regulations: What Employers Need to Know

As Canada’s largest province, Québec has a distinct legal framework that sets it apart—especially when it comes to pensions. Employers and plan sponsors looking to expand into Québec must navigate these unique regulations to ensure compliance. This session will provide:

• A deep dive into the impact of Bill C-13 and the Charter of the French Language on employment and pension plans.
• A comprehensive breakdown of Quebec’s pension law requirements and their implications for employers.

Québec’s Benefits Framework

Québec’s benefits landscape comes with its own set of legal intricacies that employers and plan sponsors must understand before expanding into the province. This session will cover:

• A review of Québec’s benefits law requirements
• Benefits available to temporary workers and what employers should consider.

Inclusive Benefits in Canada’s Modern Workplace

Navigate the diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) landscape in Canada and how it differs from the U.S. With workforces spanning five generations and a wide range of needs, employees are seeking competitive compensation and benefits that reflect their unique needs. Attendees will:

• Define an inclusive philosophy tailored to Canadian employees
• Develop strategies to create flexible, accessible and equitable benefits and pension packages.

International Transfers

In the age of employee global mobility, transferring employees between Canada and the U.S. can occur frequently. Employee benefits are an important element in these transfers. Hear about the benefit considerations and policies that organizations often deal with when transferring employees. This session covers:

• Global mobility trends
• Impact on benefits, pensions and executive compensation
• Permanent versus temporary transfers
• Treaty considerations
• Integrating employee benefit plans
• Special benefits for temporary workers.

Total Rewards Includes Benefits and Compensation

Benefits and compensation are a significant part of the total rewards offered to employees in Canada and the U.S. as a way to attract, motivate and retain talent. It’s important to know and understand how they are linked in the Canadian system and how organizations are using compensation to drive a high-performance work environment. This session covers:

• Key determinants of compensation
• Trends in compensation design in Canada and the U.S.
• Pay and performance
• Fair pay and pay equity.

Case Studies and Application

This case study involves an interactive group exercise in which participants are asked to assess the pensions and benefits plan considerations of particular scenarios involving hypothetical Canadian companies. Participants will be able to select the scenario most relevant to their real-world needs. Each group will be asked to present the issues that are most important and what should be reported to their corporate executive team, based on criteria outlined in their case study.