Certificate in Canadian Benefit Plans

Monday, October 16 - Wednesday, October 18, 2023
Fairmont Copley Plaza, Boston, MA
Certificate in Canadian Benefit Plans

The Certificate in Canadian Benefit Plans provides a solid introduction to Canadian employee benefits, pensions and human resource practices. Whether you work directly with a Canadian plan or are employed by a U.S. company with affiliates in Canada, you will gain practical and useful information about the Canadian pensions and benefits landscape.

Topics/Agenda

  • Available in person
  • Available virtually
  • Health
  • Retirement
  • Canadian
  • General
You must be a logged in registrant to access session handouts.
Monday October 16, 2023
8:30-9:30 a.m. ET
Overview of Canadian Business Environment
8:30-9:30 a.m. ET

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.

Category: General Topics
Bonni Titgemeyer, CEBS-Compliant, CHRL, CMS, SHRM-SCP, SPHR
Instructor
Bonni Titgemeyer, CEBS-Compliant, CHRL, CMS, SHRM-SCP, SPHR
Managing Director
The Employers' Choice Inc.
9:45-10:45 a.m. ET
Best Practices in Canadian Employee Benefit Plans
9:45-10:45 a.m. ET

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 offering.

Category: Health and Welfare
Christopher Lee
Instructor
Christopher Lee
Vice President, Employee Experience and Internal Communication Practice
Gallagher
Colleen L. Baker
Instructor
Colleen L. Baker
Vice President, National Enterprise Group Solutions
People Corporation
11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. ET
Canadian Employment Law and Legislation
11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. ET

This session highlights important employment standards provisions and key pieces of legislation that you need to know in order to conduct business in Canada.

The following topics are covered:

  • Minimum employment standards relating to exempt/nonexempt employees, hours of work, overtime, vacation and leaves of absence
  • Best practices in recruiting and hiring
  • Termination and employment entitlements including notice and severance
  • Labour and collective bargaining.

Category: Legal/Legislative Update
Martin Ejidra
Instructor
Martin Ejidra
Associate
Koskie Minsky LLP
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Human Rights Environment
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET

Human rights legislation in Canada directly impacts organizations with Canadian employees.

This session covers:

  • Recruitment and ongoing employment relationship
  • Accommodation
  • Protected status key issues including political affiliation, language, family status, disability and record of offences
  • Key differences in human rights provisions in Canada and the U.S.

Category: Legal/Legislative Update
Martin Ejidra
Instructor
Martin Ejidra
Associate
Koskie Minsky LLP
2:15-3:15 p.m. ET
Canadian Health Care System
2:15-3:15 p.m. ET

Learn more about the structure and principles of Canada’s health care system and how it compares to the system in the United States. 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.

Category: Health and Welfare
David G. Myles, CEBS
Instructor
David G. Myles, CEBS
Senior Manager, Benefits, Americas Area
Vialto Partners
Michael P. Jolly, GBA
Instructor
Michael P. Jolly, GBA
Director, Benefits
Loblaw Companies Limited
3:30-4:30 p.m. ET
Case Study: Managing Benefits Change
3:30-4:30 p.m. ET

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

Category: Health & Wellness
Emilie B. Inakazu, CEBS
Instructor
Emilie B. Inakazu, CEBS
Director, Benefits, Pension & Wellbeing
KPMG
Tuesday October 17, 2023
8:30-9:30 a.m. ET
Pension Fundamentals and Legal Aspects
8:30-9:30 a.m. ET

This session provides a deeper look at types of employer-sponsored pension plans offered in Canada and their regulatory framework across provincial jurisdictions. Test your knowledge about Canadian pensions. Hear about key legal decisions that have helped shape Canada’s pension environment. Learn more about what an employer operating in Canada can and cannot do.

Category: Pension
Mitch S. Frazer, LL.B.
Instructor
Mitch S. Frazer, LL.B.
Managing Partner
Mintz LLP
9:45-10:45 a.m. ET
Canadian Retirement System
9:45-10:45 a.m. ET

Gain a practical overview of the Canadian retirement landscape.

This session highlights:

  • Government public programs, including the Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security
  • Private retirement plans, including employer-sponsored plans and individual retirement savings vehicles (e.g., RRSPs and TFSAs)
  • Types of retirement plans, including defined contribution (DC), defined benefit (DB), target benefit, deferred profit-sharing and hybrid plans.

Category: Pension
Mitch S. Frazer, LL.B.
Instructor
Mitch S. Frazer, LL.B.
Managing Partner
Mintz LLP
11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. ET
Employer Group Benefits
11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. ET

Get up to date quickly on:

  • What a typical employer-sponsored
  • 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
  • Key benefits differences between Canada and the United States

Category: Health and Welfare
David G. Myles, CEBS
Instructor
David G. Myles, CEBS
Senior Manager, Benefits, Americas Area
Vialto Partners
Michael P. Jolly, GBA
Instructor
Michael P. Jolly, GBA
Director, Benefits
Loblaw Companies Limited
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Disability Provisions and Practices
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET

Obtain an overview of the disability benefits landscape in Canada and 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.

Category: Health and Welfare
Sylvain Lalancette, CEBS
Instructor
Sylvain Lalancette, CEBS
Group Benefits Advisor
GFMD
2:15-3:15 p.m. ET
Canadian Drug Benefit Practices
2:15-3:15 p.m. ET

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

Category: Health & Wellness
Suzanne M. Lepage
Instructor
Suzanne M. Lepage
Private Health Plan Strategist
Suzanne Lepage Consulting
3:30-4:30 p.m. ET
Open Forum
3:30-4:30 p.m. ET

This forum is an opportunity to ask about pension issues pertaining to your role as well as to ask about any health care topic or Canadian benefits matter pertinent to your workplace and/or role.

Category: Open Forum
David G. Myles, CEBS
Instructor
David G. Myles, CEBS
Senior Manager, Benefits, Americas Area
Vialto Partners
Michael P. Jolly, GBA
Instructor
Michael P. Jolly, GBA
Director, Benefits
Loblaw Companies Limited
Mitch S. Frazer, LL.B.
Instructor
Mitch S. Frazer, LL.B.
Managing Partner
Mintz LLP
Suzanne M. Lepage
Instructor
Suzanne M. Lepage
Private Health Plan Strategist
Suzanne Lepage Consulting
Wednesday October 18, 2023
8:30-9:30 a.m. ET
International Transfers
8:30-9:30 a.m. ET

In the age of employee global mobility, transferring employees between Canada and the United States 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.

Category: Global
Kim A. Ozubko
Instructor
Kim A. Ozubko
General Counsel & Corporate Secretary
Eckler Ltd.
9:45-10:45 a.m. ET
Total Rewards Includes Benefits and Compensation
9:45-10:45 a.m. ET

Benefits and compensation are a significant part of the total rewards offered to employees in Canada and the United States 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-performing 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.

Category: Compensation
Susan Hunter, CHRL, CCMP
Instructor
Susan Hunter, CHRL, CCMP
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Consultant
11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. ET
Case Studies and Application
11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. ET

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

Category: Health and Welfare
Preet Pall, CEBS
Instructor
Preet Pall, CEBS
Associate
Montridge Advisory Group Ltd
Wojtek W. Golebiewski, CEBS
Instructor
Wojtek W. Golebiewski, CEBS
Senior Group Retirement Plan Consultant
HUB International

Benefits of Attending

  • Earning a certificate demonstrates your expertise and recognizes your commitment to your profession.
  • A limited class size provides you with an environment where you get answers to your specific questions and attention to your unique needs.
  • You’ll find an unmatched training opportunity for live, hands-on learning and dialogue with Canadian thought leaders.

Who Should Attend

  • U.S. human resource and benefits professionals working with Canadian affiliates and wanting to learn more about Canadian benefits, pensions and human resource practices
  • Individuals working in Canada who are NEW to the pensions and benefits industry
  • Benefit specialists/analysts, coordinators and consultants with less than five years of experience in Canadian pensions and benefits

Speakers

​Additional Information

In addition to the Certificate in Canadian Benefit Plans and the Certificate in Global Benefits Management, the Certificate Series offers a full range of course options for those who work with plans in the United States. Consider the full portfolio of certificates and individual course offerings through the popular Certificate Series.

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Continuing Education

Continuing Education credit for professions and designations MAY be available for attendance at live sessions. You must register for the program and request CE credit at least 60 days prior to the beginning of the program so that the Foundation can seek preapproval from the governing agency.

Note: Requests made for continuing education credit do not guarantee administration of credit. For further information on continuing education credit, please call (262) 786-6710, option 2.

Educational sessions at this program can qualify for CEBS Compliance credit. Visit www.cebs.org/compliance for additional information.

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Registration Information

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Registration Information
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Through 9/6/2023 US $1,650.00 US $1,980.00
After 9/6/2023 US $1,950.00 US $2,280.00
 
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