Essential Skills For Pension Committee Members November 12, 13 & 14, 2008 Toronto

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Conference Agenda

Session 4:

1:30-2:15 - Evaluating The Pension Committee
Ron Haines, Chairman, Health Insurance Reciprocal of Canada

Assessing the pension committee's performance is one of the most challenging, yet one of the most important procedures, in ensuring sound pension governance. This activity goes hand-in-hand with improved transparency and accountability. This presentation will explore different strategies used today for pension committee assessment and how these can be applied successfully in your organization.

- How to use audit and evaluation techniques effectively for tighter control and better governance
- Developing an understanding of trustee's roles and responsibilities
- Implementing objective measurable targets for pension committee members
- Probing liability issues
- Implementing effective performance measures
- How to perform self-assessment of your pension committee


2:15-3:00 - Plan Management And Disclosure
Tejash Modi, Senior Consultant, Morneau Sobeco

Trustees or pension committee members must establish, operate and maintain adequate internal control mechanisms for the purpose of monitoring the pension plan and ensuring it is being effectively administered and managed in the interests of the members under the plan rules and in accordance with applicable legislation and regulatory guidelines. This discussion details the trustee's or pension committee member's role in managing the plan and in making appropriate and timely disclosure.

-Common law, legislative and regulatory compliance
-Developing policies and procedures
-Documentation best practices
-Selecting and monitoring service providers
-Appropriate and timely disclosure
-Resolving disputes with plan members


3:00-3:30 NETWORKING BREAK

3:30-4:15 - Ongoing Issues And Special Situations
Michael Marmoreo, Regional Vice-President, Group Pensions, Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc.

Occasionally, trustees or pension committee members may have to deal with uncommon events such as mergers or use of surplus assets. This discussion details key issues that trustees or pension committee members need to take into account.

-Equal benefit or equal value?
-The future for Capital Accumulation Plans
-Intergenerational equity
-Dealing with a surplus
-Restrictions on benefit improvements
-Contribution holidays
-Duties in a merger or takeover


4:15-5:00 - A Union Perspective On Pension Plan Governance
Jo-Ann Hannah, National Representative, CAW-Canada

As one of the largest private sector unions in Canada (with over 265,000 members), the CAW-Canada has made employer-sponsored pensions a priority in bargaining. It has successfully negotiated pension deals with Chrysler, Ford, Air Canada, Alcan, Falconbridge and CN Rail, with 90 percent of all CAW members benefiting from employer-sponsored plans. This session will cover:

-Why good pension governance is essential for pension security
-The strengths and weaknesses of the current state of pension governance (from a union perspective)
-Key approaches unions have taken to promote good pension governance