R-15.1, r. 4.1 - Regulation providing new relief measures for the funding of solvency deficiencies of pension plans in the private sector

Updated to 1 June 2024

This document has official status.

chapter R-15.1, r. 4.1

Regulation providing new relief measures for the funding of solvency deficiencies of pension plans in the private sector

Supplemental Pension Plans Act

(chapter R-15.1, s. 2, 2nd and 3rd pars.).

DIVISION I APPLICATION

1. This Regulation applies to every pension plan to which Chapter X of the Supplemental Pension Plans Act (chapter R-15.1) applies, with the exception of a pension plan to which can apply other special funding measures provided for under a regulation made pursuant to section 2 of the Act.

O.C. 1175-2013, s. 1.

2. The employer party to the plan may, in writing, instruct the pension committee that administers the plan to take one or more of the following relief measures provided for under section 3 for the purposes of the first actuarial valuation of the plan dated after 30 December 2013.

In the case of a multi-employer pension plan, even one not considered as such for the purposes of section 11 of the Act, the person or body empowered to amend the plan can give that instruction.

O.C. 1175-2013, s. 2.

DIVISION II RELIEF MEASURES

3. The following relief measures can be taken in accordance with the terms and conditions in this Division:

(1)  the application of an asset valuation method that levels the short-term fluctuations in the market value of the assets of the plan, called assets smoothing, for the purposes of determining the value of those assets on a solvency basis;

(2)  the elimination, as of the date of the first actuarial valuation after 30 December 2013, of the amortization payments related to any solvency deficiency determined on the date of a previous actuarial valuation;

(3)  the extension of the period provided in the Act to amortize the technical actuarial deficiencies determined on the date of the first actuarial valuation of the plan dated after 30 December 2013 or thereafter.

O.C. 1175-2013, s. 3.

§ 1 . — Assets smoothing

4. Where instructions were given to apply the relief measure provided for under paragraph 1 of section 3, the asset valuation method on a solvency basis must include the taking into account of the short-term fluctuations in the market value of the assets during the reference period fixed in the instructions. That period cannot exceed 5 years.

However, where instructions were previously given under paragraph 1 of section 2 of the Regulation providing temporary relief measures for the funding of solvency deficiencies (chapter R-15.1, r. 3.1), the valuation method must remain the same as the method indicated in those instructions.

Notwithstanding the first paragraph of section 123 of the Act, the assets of the pension plan must be established in accordance with the asset valuation method indicated in the instructions, except when determining the degree of solvency of the plan, for the purposes of the first actuarial valuation after 30 December 2013 and subsequent actuarial valuations.

O.C. 1175-2013, s. 4.

5. The value of the plan’s assets, determined on a funding basis, may not be greater than the value that would be determined using the asset valuation method used in the last complete actuarial valuation of the plan dated prior to 31 December 2013.

O.C. 1175-2013, s. 5.

§ 2 . — Extension of the amortization period

6. Notwithstanding section 142 of the Act, where instructions were given to apply the relief measure provided for under paragraph 3 of section 3, the amortization period for the technical actuarial deficiency determined on the date of the first actuarial valuation after 30 December 2013 or a subsequent actuarial valuation expires at the end of a fiscal year of the pension plan ending no later than 10 years after the date of the valuation that determined the deficiency.

O.C. 1175-2013, s. 6.

DIVISION III ACTUARIAL VALUATION REPORT

7. Any actuarial valuation report of a pension plan whose date is after 30 December 2013 and prior to the end date of the plan’s first fiscal year beginning after 31 December 2014 must indicate the measures taken in accordance with instructions. Where no instructions were given, the report must so mention.

The report must, in addition to meeting the requirements set out in sections 4 to 5.4 of the Regulation respecting supplemental pension plans (chapter R-15.1, r. 6), contain a description of the asset valuation method used.

O.C. 1175-2013, s. 7.

DIVISION IV DURATION OF THE APPLICATION OF THE RELIEF MEASURES

8. The provisions of this Regulation cease to apply in respect of a pension plan on the earlier of the following dates:

(1)  the date of the first actuarial valuation showing that the plan is solvent;

(2)  the date fixed in a writing giving instructions to terminate their application on a given date. That date must fall on the date on which a fiscal year of the plan ends. The instructions must be given by one of the parties designated under section 2;

(3)  the end date of the plan’s first fiscal year beginning after 31 December 2014.

O.C. 1175-2013, s. 8.

DIVISION V FINAL PROVISIONS

9. (Omitted).

O.C. 1175-2013, s. 9.

REFERENCES

O.C. 1175-2013, 2013 G.O. 2, 3291