Employers
In addition to the Halifax Regional Municipality, the Plan has 10 Participating Employers. These employer groups contribute regularly to the Plan and support the Pension Committee by participating in quarterly Committee meetings.
The Plan's Participating Employers and associated representatives include:
- Halifax Regional Municipality - The HRM Pension Committee
- Cole Harbour Place – Jen Heddon
- Zatzman Sportsplex – Kim Duffy
- Halifax Forum Community Association – Michael Cogdon
- Halifax Public Libraries – Cathy Maddigan
- Halifax Water – Alicia Scallion
- Halifax Regional Centre for Education – Angela Martell
- Centennial Arena – Stuart Poteri
- Lake District Recreation Association – Robert Rines
- Ocean View Continuing Care Centre – Steven Vincent
- QUEST – Chelsy Flemming
The following sections highlight some important information and responsibilities Participating Employers should be aware of.
Upcoming Plan Information Sessions
The Pension Plan Office offers information sessions designed to provide our members and their employers with important details related to the HRM Pension Plan. These sessions cover such things as Plan design features, contribution rate summaries, information for employees looking to purchase past service and much more. They also provide Plan members with the opportunity to ask questions about their HRM pension entitlements.
Please visit the “Latest News” section of the website for details on upcoming information sessions.
Providing the Pension Plan Office with Year-End Data
It is the responsibility of Participating Employers to provide the Pension Plan Office with a summary of their membership data on an annual basis. This allows the Pension Plan Office to keep their records current and complete legislated requirements for the Plan.
The Pension Plan Office will reach out to Participating Employers in late December/early January each year to explain how this process works in more detail.
Annual Defined Contribution Elections
There is a defined contribution (DC) component of the HRM Pension Plan. Typically, each eligible Plan member may elect to contribute 6.3% of their DC earnings to the Plan. The member’s employer will match these contributions. Employee and employer contributions on DC earnings are allocated to the individual member’s account and can be used to purchase additional lifetime pension amounts or to provide a lump sum transfer when the member leaves the Plan.
Plan members initially elect whether or not they would like to contribute to the DC component of the Plan upon enrollment. Once enrolled, members can change their DC election annually. It is the responsibility of the Participating Employers to provide their members with the appropriate form to change their DC election each year. The Pension Plan Office will contact Participating Employers in August of each year with more information on this process.
Plan Membership for Part-time Employees
An employee employed on a less than full-time basis by a Participating Employer may become a Plan member on the first day of January or July coincident with or following the completion of 12 months of Continuous Service, provided they meet certain criteria.
The Pension Plan Office will contact Participating Employers at various times throughout the year to help determine if any part-time employees have become eligible to join the Plan.