20 Companies That Boast the Best Pension Plans in Canada

It can make a huge difference to your professional life if you work for a company that takes care of its employees. But you also need to think about what comes after retirement. Ideally, you want to work for a company that won’t only take care of you while you’re working for them, but will help you have a comfortable life once you’ve stopped. When you consider any new employer, you shouldn’t just look at the pay and perks they offer now, but also at their retirement benefits.

With that in mind, here — in no particular order — are just some of the companies with the best pension programs in Canada.

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Ontario Teacher’s Pension Plan

The Ontario Teacher’s Pension Plan provides lifetime pensions to current teachers, active and retired and their survivors living in Ontario. It also provides benefits for if members die, become disabled or permanently leave teaching before their retirement.

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Canadian Public Service

The Canadian Public Service not only pays its employees a lifetime pension calculated according to years of service. If you want to retire early, you can get a bridge benefit to give you an income until you turn 65 and can claim the full pension. You can also receive health benefits after retirement, with no age limit.

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The Hospital for Sick Children

The Hospital for Sick Children not only offers retirement planning to its employees but has a Quarter Century Association through which retirees can stay connected. Employees can retire early at age 55 without a reduction in their benefits. If you want to retire even earlier, you might like these tips on how to retire at 50.

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CIBC

In addition to your regular defined benefit pension plan, CIBC offers an RRSP and an employee shares purchase plan. The bank assists employees with their retirement planning and also has a retiree advisory committee which represents retirees in decisions affecting them.

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Desjardins Group

At the Desjardins Group, employees get a defined benefit pension plan and if they retire a few years earlier, at age 62, they can claim their pension without it being reduced. Retired employees also continue to get their health benefits, with no age limit.

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University of Toronto

The University of Toronto has a defined benefit pension plan and you may qualify for early retirement at age 60 without reduced pension benefits. Retired academics and librarians can also meet at the university’s Senior College Centre, which will make retirement easier to adjust to. Furthermore, the university has one of the best benefits Canadian companies offer: employees’ children can study for free.

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National Energy Board

The National Energy Board offers a defined benefit pension plan and helps its employees plan for retirement. Retired employees can also continue to enjoy health benefits, with no age limit.

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Government of Yukon

The Government of Yukon not only offers a defined benefit pension plan but also extended health benefits for retired employees. These health benefits include unlimited out-of-country emergency coverage, so you can consider sunny and warm places to retire without having to worry about health emergencies.

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BC Public Service

The BC Public Service offers a pension plan with lifetime benefits that are adjusted for inflation every year. In addition, employees who want to retire early can apply for a bridge benefit. The plan also offers extended health benefits.

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BC Teacher’s Pension Plan

If you’re a BC teacher and join their pension plan, you get a lifetime monthly pension when you retire. Although your employee health care coverage will end when your employment ends, you can still apply for voluntary extended health care and dental coverage through the plan when you apply for your pension.

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ESIT Advanced Solutions

At ESIT Advanced Solutions, you get a defined benefit pension upon retirement. However, you also get a retirement allowance based on how many years you’ve worked for the company, as well as service awards and retirement gifts.

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Canada Post

All permanent full-time and part-time workers of the Canada Post are entitled to the company’s pension plan. This includes clerks, mail handlers, dispatchers, technical services and RSMC Permanent Relief employees. Employees who contributed can retire without penalty if they’ve reached 55 or 60 years old.

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BDC

BDC, or Business Development Bank of Canada, offers a defined benefit pension plan. Employees have several options to top up their contributions too.

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BCE

Formerly Bell Enterprises Canada Inc., employees at the company get matched an automatic 4 per cent plus, 100 per cent of their contributions. And if you participate in the Group Retirement Savings Plan (RSP) there are low investment fees.

Alberta Health Service hospital building

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Alberta Health Services

At Alberta Health Services, employees get a defined benefit pension plan. They also have the option of a group savings plan such as an RRSP or a TFSA to help them set aside more money for retirement.

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OPTrust

One of the largest pension funds in Canada, OPTrust’s pension plan you get a defined benefit pension plan when you retire. Contributions are not taxed but when you start receiving a monthly pension, you pay income tax on the retirement income. They also help you invest responsibly.

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Air Canada

Air Canada offers some very cool jobs for people who love to travel and when employees of the airline retire, they get to continue doing what they love. In addition to pension benefits, retired Air Canada employees still get travel discounts.

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KPMG

KPMG offers a defined contribution pension plan, an RRSP and a non-registered savings plan as well as profit sharing. The company also has an extensive education program to help employees avoid costly mistakes that can ruin retirement, with workshops, one-on-one meetings and even Skype sessions.

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RBC

As an employee at RBC, you can have access to regular one-on-one customized advice whenever you need it. The defined contribution pension plan has different options like income flexibility, survivor benefits and estate planning and investment management and investment risk.

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Enbridge Inc.

Energy company Enbridge offers a defined benefit pension plan that it pays for. Retirees also still enjoy health benefits and can choose their benefits packages according to their needs. Like many of the companies with the best pension plans in Canada, Enbridge also offers phase-in work options to help employees adjust to retirement.