Pensions – Legislation and updates

Legislation and regulation

• Employment Pension Plans Act (EPPA) - E-8.1 2012 (effective September 1, 2014)
• Employment Pension Plans Regulation - 154/2014 (consolidated with amendments)
• Joint Governance of Public Sector Pension Plans Act (effective March 1, 2019)
• Exemption (Public Sector Pension) Regulation (effective March 1, 2019)

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 (PDF, 318 KB).

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 (PDF, 316 KB).

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 (MS Excel, 17 KB) (updated January 6, 2016) - this is to be used for illustrative purposes only.
• For more information, see EPPA Update 14-06 (PDF, 214 KB).

Previous version of the EPPA

For the act and regulation which were effective up to August 31, 2014, please contact the Queen's Printer:

• Employment Pension Plans Act (EPPA) - E-8 RSA 2000
• Employment Pension Plans Regulation 35/2000

EPPA updates

Issued in 2020

• 20-07: Electronic Beneficiary Designation (PDF, 255 KB) (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 (PDF, 260 KB) (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 (PDF, 295 KB) (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 $2.00.  This was a decrease from the previous year’s fee of $2.50 per member.
• 20-04: Additional COVID-19 Relief Measures (PDF, 318 KB) (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 (PDF, 145 KB) (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 (PDF, 144 KB) (June 2, 2020)
  Alberta has signed the 2020 Agreement Respecting Multi-Jurisdictional Pension Plans.
• 20-01: COVID-19 Relief Measures (PDF, 144 KB) (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 (PDF, 228 KB) (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 (PDF, 190 KB) (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.

Issued in 2018

• 18-06: Filing Fee for Pension Plans effective October 1, 2018 (PDF, 190 KB) (September 11, 2018)
  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, 2018 is $2.50. This is the same as last year’s rate of $2.50.
• 18-05: Alberta Employment Pension Tribunal (PDF, 245 KB) (July 3, 2018)
  The Alberta Employment Pensions Tribunal was established under revisions to the EPPA made in September 2014. The purpose of the Tribunal is to hear appeals regarding certain decisions of the Superintendent of Pensions regarding the funding, investment and administration of a pension plan. Effective June 14, 2018, the Tribunal has been appointed. See the Alberta Employment Pension Tribunal web page.
• 18-04: Cost Certificate - 2018 (PDF, 242 KB) (May 31, 2018)
  We have revised the Cost Certificate (CC) that the actuary is required to file each year using the online filing site. We now require you to attach a copy of the actuarial valuation in online filing. Form FSRP0020 (PDF, 344 KB) is an information copy of the CC that may be used to assist when entering the data in the online filing site.
• 18-03: Eligibility for Pension Credit Splitting on Relationship Breakdown Extended to Common-Law Spouses (PDF, 282 KB) (May 23, 2018)
  A Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta decision issued April 13, 2018 gives common-law pension partners the same rights to split pension benefits as apply to legally married pension partners on marriage breakdown. It should be noted that the common-law pension partner must meet the criteria for being a pension partner as defined in section 1(3)(b) of the EPPA.
• 18-02 - Annual Information Return - 2018 (PDF, 138 KB) (April 10, 2018)
  In accordance with Section 38(1)(a) of the EPPA and Section 47 of the Regulation, the Annual Information Return (AIR) must be filed within 180 days of the fiscal year end of the plan. Form FSRP0019 (PDF, 303 KB) is an information copy of the AIR that may be used to assist when entering the data in the online filing site.
• 18-01 - Defined Benefit Funding Relief Provisions - 2018 (PDF, 302 KB) (March 23, 2018)
  In accordance with Section 5 of the EPPA, the Superintendent of Pensions is now accepting applications from defined benefit pension plan administrators to extend the solvency deficiency amortization period by up to 10 years. This relief is intended to assist plan sponsors with the financial pressures associated with the ongoing low interest rate environment. This update is designed to instruct administrators.

EPPA updates issued prior to 2018

See the Open Government Portal for all 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