Number of pension committee members

The number of members on a pension committee is determined in the plan text. However, the committee must have at least 3 voting members designated as follows at all times:

  1. one member designated by the active members at the annual meeting (or one member, whether active, or not, be designated according to the conditions set out in the plan)
  2. one member designated by the group of non-active members and beneficiaries at the annual meeting (or one member, whether active, or not, or a beneficiary, designated according to the conditions set out in the plan)
  3. A third-party member, who does not represent a plan member, union representative, director or other representative of the employer, and who is designated according to the conditions set out in the plan.

In addition, the committee can include 2 non-voting members (also known as additional members) designated at the annual meeting: one by the group of active plan members and the other by the group of non-active members and beneficiaries.

However, for a plan subject to the Act to foster the financial health and sustainability of municipal defined benefit pension plans, the committee can include 2 additional non-voting members, who are designated at the annual meeting.

Note that...

At the annual meeting, the group of active members and the group of non-active members and beneficiaries can designate a person of their choice. They cannot be required to designate a member or beneficiary. However, if the plan gives them the right to designate more than one member at the annual meeting, therefore the additional members must be plan members or beneficiaries.

Plans with less than 51 members and beneficiaries

This type of plan may provide that a pension committee having only 2 members administers the plan. One of the members must be a third-party member and the other, a plan member or beneficiary designated according to the rules provided for in the plan, or a person designated at the annual meeting.

Legal references

For more information on the makeup of the pension committee, refer to: