Ontario’s Expert Commission On Pensions

Originally published in Blakes Bulletin on Pension and Employee Benefits, August 2007

In November 2006, the Government of Ontario established a Commission to examine legislation governing the funding of defined benefit pension plans, the rules relating to pension deficits and surpluses, and other issues relating to the security, viability and sustainability of the pension system in Ontario. The Minister of Finance appointed Professor Harry Arthurs as Chair of the Commission (Commissioner) and also an Advisory Panel composed of the author, Ian Markham, Bob Baldwin and Murray Gold to assist the Chair (Advisors). The Commissioner is solely responsible for the final contents of the Commission’s report, and the direction and oversight of the Commission staff.