The HRM Pension Committee

The HRM Pension Committee (the 'Committee') is tasked with the overall governance of the Plan as well as ensuring that the Plan is able to deliver its benefit promise to members. The Committee has a fiduciary duty to Plan members. This means the Committee must act in the best interests of all Plan Members, using the care, skill and diligence that a prudent person would exercise when dealing with the property of another person. The Committee must ensure that the Plan is administered in compliance with provincial legislation, the Income Tax Act, the HRM Pension Plan Text and industry guidelines.

The Committee is structured such that both employee and management groups have equal representation during decision-making processes.

The Committee consists of twelve voting members. Five of the voting members are union representatives and another five are appointed by HRM management. A retired member and a representative from the Non-Union Municipal Employees Association (NUMEA) make up the remainder of the voting members of the Committee.

The five employee unions represented on the Committee with voting members include:

• International Association of Firefighters, Local 268 (IAFF)
• Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union (NSGEU)
• Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)
• Halifax Regional Police Association (HRPA)
• Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 508 (ATU)

 

Meet the HRM Pension Committee

 

Union Representatives                     Management Representatives               Additional Voting Members

Melanie Parker, Co-Chair                  John Traves, Co-Chair                           Mark Hartlen
(NSGEU)                                                                                                             (Retiree)

Dan Axford                                         Britt Wilson                                           Greg MacKay
(IAFF)                                                                                                                 (NUMEA)

Jonathan Beer                                   Rob Ritchie                              
(HRPA)

Mark Voisin                                        Jerry Blackwood
(CUPE)

Ray MacKenzie                                   Vicki Robertson
(ATU)

 

Training and Education Sub-Committee

The Training and Education Sub-Committee is responsible for developing required competencies of Committee members as well as recommending annual training and education budgets. This support ensures that Committee members have access to adequate training opportunities and remain up-to-date on industry issues and best practices.    

Audit Sub-Committee

The Audit Sub-Committee is responsible for overseeing the selection of the external auditor as well as reviewing the annual audited financial statements prior to Committee approval.