North America

CANADA - The funding levels of corporate pension plans remain higher than expected considering the downturn in the equity markets, rating agency DBRS said.

CANADA - The Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS) has appointed Michael Latimer as the pension funds' executive vice president and chief investment officer.

CANADA - The federal government amended the pension funding rules for cash-strapped Air Canada to allow for a 21-month pension funding moratorium, the company said.

CANADA - The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec has extended a C$100m (US$92.5m) loan to Yellow Pages as part of a program that extends credit to local companies.

CANADA - Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec has appointed Roland Lescure as its new chief investment officer in the latest change following an extensive investment staff reshuffle earlier this year.

Raquel Pichardo-Allison looks at the different approaches that the US, Canada and the Netherlands are taking to improve regulation in light of the economic crisis

CANADA - The shareholders of the Macquarie Communications Infrastructure Group (MCG) have ratified the acquisition offer made by the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) in March.

Consultancy firms Towers, Perrin, Forster & Crosby and Watson Wyatt will merge, the two firms announced yesterday.

CANADA - The Ontario government will allow the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System to provide third-party investment and pension administration services.

CANADA - Canada should reform its pension system by creating a hybrid model which resembles the one in place in the Netherlands, the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan president and chief executive says.