Guidelines for Industry
CAPSA Guidelines are intended to support the continuous development and improvement of industry practices. Canadian pension regulators generally expect that registered pension plans will operate in accordance with CAPSA Guidelines. However, individual pension regulators may communicate their own specific expectations and registered pension plans in those jurisdictions should operate accordingly.
| Guideline No. | Guideline Name | Publication Date | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Flexible Pension Plans |
April 30, 1999 | Summarizes the recommendations of the Task Force on Flexible Pension Plans in order to address various issues related to flexible pension plans. |
| 2 | Electronic Communication in the Pension Industry Letter to Stakeholders |
May 8, 2019 | Provides a framework to apply the provisions of e- commerce legislation and applicable pension legislation to pension communications sent electronically from a pension plan administrator and/or pension plan sponsor that are required under pension legislation. |
| 3 |
Guideline for Capital Accumulation Plans Letter to Stakeholders |
September 9, 2024 | The new Guideline reflects regulators’ views on the responsibilities of CAP sponsors, administrators and service providers in the current marketplace. It also clarifies expectations surrounding information to be communicated to members. |
| 4 | Fillable – Self Assessment Questionnaire Announcement - Release Pension Plan Governance Self-Assessment Questionnaire FAQs | January 17, 2018 December, 2016 |
To assist pension plan administrators in fulfilling their governance responsibilities by achieving and maintaining good governance practices. |
| 5 | Fund Holder Arrangements Table Letter to Stakeholders |
March 1, 2011 | Highlights good governance practices related to fund holder arrangements of the pension plan and pension fund. |
| 6 | Prudence Standard Letter to Stakeholders Self-Assessment Questionnaire |
November, 2011 | Provides guidance to plan administrators on how to demonstrate the application of prudence to the investment of pension plan assets. |
| 7 | Pension Plan Funding Policy Letter to Stakeholders |
May 7, 2021 | This Guideline is intended to provide guidance on the development and adoption of funding policies for pension plans that provide defined benefits or target benefits. |
| 8 | Defined Contribution Pension Plans Guideline Letter to Stakeholders Reference Document |
February 7, 2019 March 28, 2014 |
Developed as part of CAPSA's strategic initiative to review current approaches to regulating and supervising defined contribution (DC) pension plans. |
| 9 | Searching for Un-locatable Members of a Pension Plan Letter to Stakeholders |
February 7, 2019 February 7, 2019 |
Outlines best practices and options with respect to searching for un-locatable members. |
| 10 |
Guideline for Risk Management for Plan Administrators Letter to Stakeholders |
September 9, 2024 |
In response to stakeholder input received during the 2022 consultation, CAPSA shifted development to one comprehensive Risk Management Guideline to consolidate approaches to pension risk management on topics including: cyber security, use of leverage, third-party advisors or service providers, investment governance and environmental, social and governance (ESG). Both guidelines recognize the wide range in size and sophistication of plans, administrators, and sponsors. |
| Communique - Review of Leverage Use within Pension Plans Letter to Stakeholders |
February, 2019 | Key findings regarding leverage use within pension plans. | |
| Recommendations: Funding of Benefits for Plans Other than Defined Contribution Plans Letter to Stakeholders |
February 14, 2019 | Recommends options that policy makers and governments should consider in order to promote new, consistent funding rules, to the extent possible. | |
| Guidance: Solvency or hypothetical wind-up liabilities based on actual life insurance company annuity quotation Letter to Stakeholders |
May 8, 2019 May 8, 2019 |
Outlines expectations regarding situations where an actuary wants to use an insurance company quotation to determine the solvency liabilities of the portion of the pension plan that is assumed to be settled by purchase of annuities. |
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