Employer pension plans (trusteed pension funds): New tables, 2021

Starting in the first quarter of 2021, the survey was redesigned to collect additional variables and increase the number of pension funds covered quarterly.

The new design eases data collection for respondents and data interpretability for users by reflecting the format of financial statements more closely. It also allows for deeper level of detail in certain variables, such as the share of assets invested abroad. Additional detail in the reporting categories also reduces the share of assets classified in the "other assets" category.

Previously, the quarterly survey included approximately the largest 150 trusteed pension funds, and the remainder of the pension amounts were estimated based upon the results of the biennial Census of Trusteed Pension Funds. In the new design, the quarterly sample includes the top 250 trusteed pension plans, which equates to approximately 90% of the total value of all trusteed pension assets, and the biennial Census of Trusteed Pension Funds will no longer be conducted, resulting in reduced respondent burden. Therefore, the values reported in this release refer to the largest 250 pension plans, and no longer include an estimate for the remainder of the trusteed pension plan universe.

Due to these changes, first quarter 2021 data are not to be compared with previous quarters. Comparisons with the previous quarter will resume with the release of second quarter 2021 data scheduled for December 15, 2021.

Tables 11-10-0084, 11-10-0085 and 11-10-0086 are released today complementing the results published on September 15. These new tables include a new category for infrastructure, detailed breakdowns on bonds, equities, Canadian mortgages and provide a better picture of the split between domestic and foreign assets.

For the purposes of this survey, trusteed pension funds include the assets of one or more registered pension plans: those held under a trust agreement, those held by a pension corporation or pension fund society, those administered under legislation by the Government of Canada or the government of a province or a territory of Canada, and those held by an insurance company for investment management only.

Excluded from the survey are pension funds held in total under an annuity insurance contract.