Active members

The merger requires active member approval

The merger of the Pension Plan for The George Hull Centre for Children and Families (GHC DB Pension Plan) and the CAAT Pension Plan is subject to the Pension Benefits Act (Ontario) and its regulations. This legislation requires at least two-thirds of DB Active Members to vote in favour of the merger, and no more than one-third of inactive members (former, retired and other members with a DB entitlement are classified as inactive members) under the GHC DB Pension Plan can object to the merger.

DB Active Member: You are an employee of The George Hull Centre with a defined benefit (DB entitlement) under the GHC DB Pension Plan. You were hired on or before September 6, 2010. Your consent is required for the merger to proceed. If you are represented by OPSEU, you will work with your union to submit your vote. Otherwise, you will receive a voting ballot in your Notice of Proposed Merger package.

Non-DB Active Member: You are an employee of The George Hull Centre either participating in the Group Retirement Savings Plan for The George Hull Centre for Children and Families (Group RRSP), or not participating in any employer sponsored pension arrangement. You do not have to vote.

If the merger proceeds, DB Active Members and full-time Non-DB Active Members will automatically join the CAAT Pension Plan and start earning a pension under DBplus July 1, 2021. Non-DB Active Members who work on an other than full-time basis (contract, relief, or part-time), will have the option to enroll in CAAT starting on July 1, 2021.

To learn more about the merger, refer to your Notice of Proposed Merger package or Information package, prepared by The George Hull Centre with the assistance of the CAAT Pension Plan. Your Notice of Proposed Merger or Information package includes information specific to you. Also be sure to attend an information session where representatives from the CAAT Pension Plan and the GHC DB Pension Plan will be available to answer your questions.

Below is a description of the merger and action steps.

vote required
You must vote yes for the merger to proceed

If you are a DB Active Member, you must vote "yes" for the merger to proceed.


All consent forms must be received by June 14, 2021.

How does the merger impact your pension?

The information below outlines the effects of the merger on your pension, based on the terms of the GHC DB Pension Plan and DBplus, as it applies to you.

Choose the title that corresponds to your pension entitlement for details about the merger and how it affects you. If you are unsure which provision applies to you, refer to your Notice of Proposed Merger or Information package.

If you are participating in the GHC DB Pension Plan with a past Defined Benefit pension – Click DB Active Member (hired on or before September 6, 2010)

If you are not participating in the GHC DB Pension Plan – Click Non-DB Active Member (hired after September 6, 2010 and/or not participating in the GHC DB Pension Plan)

DB Active Member

DB Active Members

Action steps

1. Learn about the merger

Review your personalized Notice of Proposed Merger package carefully. It includes key information about the CAAT Pension Plan, and the impact of the proposed merger on your pension. You can also review some information about the proposed merger on this website.

2. Estimate your pension

Refer to the page in your Notice of Proposed Merger package titled "Estimate your pension". Input the information marked "A" through "E" into the DBplus Estimator to project your total pension from DBplus if the merger is approved and get an estimate of your pension at different retirement dates.

3. Attend an information session

The CAAT Pension Plan will be holding member information sessions where you can learn about the proposed merger and ask any questions.

4. Active members of the GHC DB Pension Plan must vote "yes" for this merger to be approved

For OPSEU represented employees, your union will follow its internal by-laws and constitution to vote internally, and then will vote on your behalf by June 14, 2021. This means you will not have a consent form in your merger information package. Please speak to your union representatives for further information.

If you are not represented by OPSEU, to vote in favour of the merger, you must detach, complete, and return the Consent form at the back of your Notice of Proposed Merger package. Use the self-addressed, postage-paid envelope in your merger package to return your consent form. Consent forms must be received by June 14, 2021 in order to count. A consent form that is not returned, or that is received after the deadline, counts as a "No" vote.

Details about your pension under the merged plan

Contribution rates

If the merger is approved, effective July 1, 2021, your DBplus contribution rate will be set at 7% of your earnings and will be 100% matched by your employer. Contributions are withheld and remitted to CAAT by your employer on your behalf. Member contributions are tax deductible, and all contributions are subject to maximum limits under the Income Tax Act (Canada).

Pension calculation

Your total pension at retirement will be calculated in two parts:

  • Following regulatory consent, the pension you have earned under the DB provision of the GHC DB Pension Plan prior to July 1, 2021 will be transferred and replicated in the CAAT Pension Plan. This portion of your pension benefit will be payable to you under the DB provisions of the GHC DB Pension Plan.
  • The pension you earn as of July 1, 2021 will be under the CAAT Pension Plan, under the DBplus plan design provisions.

The two pension amounts will be combined to make your total annual lifetime pension. When you retire, your pension will be paid on the first day of every month from the CAAT Pension Plan. Because your pension will have been earned in two distinct plans, two different sets of rules will apply to your total annual lifetime pension.

Inflation protection

Conditional inflation protection - enhancements after you retire

If the merger is completed, your DBplus pension, once in pay, will continue to grow with annual conditional inflation protection increases at a rate of 75% of the percent change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), beginning January 1, 2023 (or from your pension commencement date, if later). These increases will allow your pension to continue to grow with the economy, maintaining your spending power in retirement. Inflation protection increases are conditional on the CAAT Pension Plan Funding Policy. If the merger is completed:

  • any benefit you earn under the DBplus plan design will have annual conditional inflation protection increases applied at the beginning of each year your pension is in pay; and,
  • the conditional inflation protection will not be applied to the pension earned under the GHC DB Pension Plan.

Non-DB Active Member

Non-DB Active Members

Action steps

1. Learn about joining CAAT Pension Plan

Carefully review the personalized Information package that you received by mail. It includes key information about the CAAT Pension Plan, and details about the DBplus plan design.

2. Estimate your pension

Fill out the required fields in the DBplus Estimator to project your total pension from DBplus if the merger is approved and get an estimate of your pension at different retirement dates.

3. Attend an information session

The CAAT Pension Plan will be holding member information sessions where you can learn about the proposed merger and ask any questions.

If the merger is approved.

Full-time employees will automatically join the CAAT Pension Plan and start earning a pension under DBplus on July 1, 2021. For employees who work on an other than full-time basis (contract, relief, part-time), you will have the option to enroll in CAAT starting on July 1, 2021.

Details about your DBplus pension

Contribution rates

If the merger is approved, effective July 1, 2021 all full-time employees who are hired on or after July 1, 2021 will contribute to DBplus at a rate of 7.0% of your earnings per year, matched dollar for dollar by George Hull Centre. All part-time employees will have the option to join DBplus with the same contribution rate.

Member contributions are tax deductible, and all contributions are subject to maximum limits under the Income Tax Act (Canada).

Pension calculation

The pension you earn as of July 1, 2021 would be under the CAAT Pension Plan, using its DBplus formula.

Inflation protection

Beginning at the later of January 1, 2023 or the January 1 of the year after you start your pension, your DBplus pension will continue to grow with annual conditional inflation protection increases at a rate of 75% of the change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) subject to the CAAT Pension Plan’s Funding Policy.

These increases will allow your pension to continue to grow with the economy, maintaining your spending power in retirement. Inflation protection increases are conditional on the CAAT Pension Plan Funding Policy.

Estimate your pension at different dates

The DBplus Estimator is an easy-to-use online resource. With just a few simple inputs, you can see your estimated pension at a variety of different retirement dates, or with different salary increase assumptions.

If you are a DB Active Member, use the information on the page of your Notice of Proposed Merger package titled "Estimate your pension" and simply input the data into the matching data fields.

If you are a Non-DB Active Member, simply enter your date of birth and earnings to get an estimate of your pension under DBplus if the merger is approved.

Click here to use the DBplus Estimator
Group of professionals standing together and smiling
DBplus Member Handbook

For new members of the CAAT Pension Plan earning a pension in DBplus.

Download the DBplus Member Handbook (PDF)

Need to speak with us?

 

If you have questions about retirement prior to the merger or wish to change your personal or beneficiary information, please contact your human resources representative.

The George Hull Centre member services at the CAAT Pension Plan

Toll Free: 1.866.350.2228

Toronto area: 416.673.9000

Email: GHC@caatpension.ca