Pensions – Legislation and updates

Legislation and regulation

• Alberta Pension Protection Act – A-29.5 2023 (effective December 7, 2023)
  • The act requires a referendum be held with respect to the operation and establishment of Alberta Pension Plan before assuming any obligations or liabilities and accepting any payment or assets. The act also guarantees that Albertans would pay the same or lower contribution rates and receive the same or better benefits as the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). It also ensures the assets transferred to Alberta from the CPP would only be used to set up a pension plan and operate it in the best interests of Albertans.
• Employment Pension Plans Act (EPPA) – E-8.1 2012 (effective September 1, 2014)
  • For the previous version of the EPPA and regulation which were effective up to August 31, 2014, contact the King's Printer:
    • Employment Pension Plans Act (EPPA) – E-8 RSA 2000
    • Employment Pension Plans Regulation 35/2000
• Employment Pension Plans Regulation – 154/2014 (consolidated with amendments)
• Joint Governance of Public Sector Pension Plans Act (effective March 1, 2019)
  • This act transitioned the Local Authorities Pension Plan (LAPP), the Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) and the Special Forces Pension Plan (SFPP) to a joint governance structure. Under joint governance, employee and employer groups (equally nominated for a sponsor board) share control of plan design and responsibility for the financial health of the plan, plan services are continued with AIMCo and Alberta Pensions Services.
• Exemption (Public Sector Pension) Regulation (effective March 1, 2019)

Regulation Amendment June 2024: Provision for Adverse Deviation (PfAD)

• Amendment to Employment Pension Plans Regulation (OC 181/2024, effective June 20, 2024). This amendment changes the calculation of the Provision for Adverse Deviation (PfAD).
• For more information, see EPPA Update 24-01.

Regulation Amendment December 2021: supplemental pension plans

• Amendment to Employment Pension Plans Regulation (OC 380/2021, effective December 8, 2021). This amendment introduces a new commuted value payout option for a publicly funded pension plan, which is supplemental to a base public sector plan.
• For more information, see EPPA Update 21-04.

Regulation amendment, June 2020: funding relief and electronic records

• Amendment to Employment Pension Plans Regulation (OC 190/2020, effective June 24, 2020). This amendment extends temporary funding relief and clarifies the permitted use of electronic records.
• For more information, see EPPA Update 20-04.

Regulation amendment, November 2017: commuted value payout option

• Amendment to Employment Pension Plans Regulation (OC 394/2017, effective November 21, 2017). This amendment established a commuted value payout option available to Collectively Bargained Multi-Employer Plans (CBMEPs) that are under a solvency moratorium.
• For more information, see EPPA Update 17-03.

Regulation amendment, September 2014: moratorium on solvency funding and Provision for Adverse Deviation (PfAD) Calculator

• Amendment to Employment Pension Plans Regulation (OC 477/2014, effective September 1, 2014). This amendment primarily established a moratorium on solvency funding for Collectively Bargained Multi-Employer Plans (CBMEPs). It also extended certain time limits that are applicable to all pension plans, establishing default funds and housekeeping changes.
• Provision for Adverse Deviation (PfAD) Calculator (updated January 6, 2016) - this is to be used for illustrative purposes only.
• For more information, see EPPA Update 14-06.

EPPA updates

The following updates were issued by the Superintendent of Pensions:

Issued in 2024

• 24-02: Filing Fee for Pension Plans effective October 1, 2024 (September 30, 2024)
  In accordance with Section 153 of the Employment Pension Plans Regulation, the Superintendent of Pensions advises that the annual filing fee rate in Alberta effective October 1, 2024, is $2.50 per member. This is an increase from the previous year's fee of $2.25 per member.
• 24-01: Amendment to the Employment Pension Plans Regulation (June 21, 2024)
  On June 20, 2024, the Employment Pension Plans Regulation was amended to change the calculation of the Provision of Adverse Deviation (PfAD).

Issued in 2023

• 23-01: Filing Fee for Pension Plans effective October 1, 2023 (September 21, 2023)
  In accordance with Section 153 of the Employment Pension Plans Regulation, the Superintendent of Pensions advises that the annual filing fee rate in Alberta effective October 1, 2023, is $2.25 per member.

Issued in 2022

• 22-02: Filing Fee for Pension Plans effective October 1, 2022 (September 28, 2022)
  In accordance with Section 153 of the Employment Pension Plans Regulation, the Superintendent of Pensions advises that the annual filing fee rate in Alberta effective October 1, 2022 is $2 per member.
• 22-01: Online Filing of Wind-up Reports and Letters of Credit (April 21, 2022)
  ​The Employment Pensions system was enhanced to allow the online filing of Wind-up Reports and Letters of Credit.

Issued in 2021

• 21-04: Employment Pension Plans Amendment Regulation (Supplemental Pension Plans) (December 10, 2021)
  On December 8, 2021, the Employment Pension Plans Regulation (EPPR) was amended to introduce a new commuted value payout option for a publicly funded pension plan, which is supplemental to a base public sector plan.
• 21-03: Filing Fee for Pension Plans effective October 1, 2021 (September 24, 2021)
  In accordance with Section 153 of the Employment Pension Plans Regulation, the Superintendent of Pensions advises that the annual filing fee rate in Alberta effective October 1, 2021 is $2 per member.
• 21-02: Online Payment of Filing Fees (June 22, 2021)
  Employment Pensions has upgraded its online filing site to allow for the payment of annual filing fees and penalties.
• 21-01: New Deputy Superintendent of Pensions (May 10, 2021)
  Haripaul Pannu has been appointed Deputy Superintendent of Pensions, effective May 10, 2021.

Issued in 2020

• 20-07: Electronic Beneficiary Designation (December 10, 2020)
  On December 9, 2020, Bill 48: Red Tape Reduction Implementation Act, 2020 (No. 2) received Royal Assent. Bill 48 amends section 71 of the Wills and Succession Act to permit electronic beneficiary designation.
• 20-06: Online Filing of Documents (September 30, 2020)
  Employment Pensions has implemented revisions to its online filing site to allow the online filing of a pension plan’s Audited Financial Statements (AFS), plan texts and amendments, and fundholder documents
• 20-05: Filing Fee for Pension Plans effective October 1, 2020 (September 23, 2020)
  In accordance with Section 153 of the Employment Pension Plans Regulation, the Superintendent of Pensions advises that the annual per member filing fee effective October 1, 2020 will be $2 per member. This was a decrease from the previous year’s fee of $2.50 per member.
• 20-04: Additional COVID-19 Relief Measures (June 24, 2020)
  The Government of Alberta continues to take action to protect the safety, security, and economic interests of Albertans amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturn.
• 20-03: Additional COVID-19 Relief Measures (June 3, 2020)
  The Government of Alberta continues to take action to protect the safety, security, and economic interests of Albertans amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturn.
• 20-02: Adoption of the 2020 Agreement Respecting Multi-Jurisdictional Pension Plans (June 2, 2020)
  Alberta has signed the 2020 Agreement Respecting Multi-Jurisdictional Pension Plans.
• 20-01: COVID-19 Relief Measures (April 1, 2020)
  In response to the recent market decline amid the COVID-19 outbreak, the Superintendent is announcing a number of relief measures for pension plans registered in Alberta.

Issued in 2019

• 19-02: Employment Pension Plans Act and Regulation Amendments (November 28, 2019)
  On November 22, 2019, Bill 22: Reform of Agencies, Boards and Commissions and Government Enterprises Act, 2019 received Royal Assent. Additionally, on that same day, Order in Council 235/2019 was signed in respect of the Budget Implementation (Pensions) Amendment Regulation. Finally, on November 26, 2019, Order in Council 258/2019 was signed in respect of the Pension Plans Regulations (Family Property) Amendment Regulation. This EPPA Update is designed to provide Plan Administrators and service providers with information regarding the changes. This Update is limited to changes made to the EPPA and the associated Regulation (EPPR).
• 19-01: Filing Fee for Pension Plans effective October 1, 2019 (September 18, 2019)
  In accordance with Section 153 of the EPPA Regulation, the Superintendent of Pensions advises that the annual filing fee rate in Alberta effective October 1, 2019 is $2.50. This is the same as last year’s rate of $2.50.

See the Open Government Portal for all Superintendent of Pensions EPPA Updates, beginning in 2000.

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Contact

Pension plans registered under the Employment Pension Plans Act (EPPA)

Connect with the Office of the Alberta Superintendent of Pensions:

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-427-8322 
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Email: [email protected]

Address:
Alberta Superintendent of Pensions
Alberta Treasury Board and Finance
Financial Sector Regulation and Policy
402 Terrace Building
9515 107 Street
Edmonton, Alberta  T5K 2C3

Public sector pensions

Contact the following for information on:

• Alberta Teachers’ Pension Plans: Alberta Teachers’ Retirement Fund Board
• Local Authorities Pension Plan: LAPP Contact
• Public Service Pension Plan: PSPP Contact
• Special Forces Pension Plan: SFPP Contact
• Universities Academic Pension Plan: UAPP Contact
• All other Alberta Public Sector Pension Plans: Alberta Pensions Services Corporation
• Federal pension plans: Canada Pension Plan or Old Age Security