Frequently Asked Questions

Contribution

If I quit my job and am no longer a member of the CSN, can I still be a member of Bâtirente?

Yes, it’s your vested right.

If I am no longer a member of the CSN, can I continue contributing to my Bâtirente account?

Yes, you can continue contributing to your Bâtirente account for as long as you wish.

Are my contributions to my Bâtirente account tax deductible?

Yes. You will indeed be receiving an official receipt for the contributions you made to your group registered retirement savings plan (RRSP). For your simplified retirement plan (SRP), the information regarding the contributions you made will appear on your T4 and RL-1 slips.

When will I be receiving my official receipts for my registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) contributions?

You will receive your receipt for the contributions you made over the first sixty days of the year by mid-March of the same year. Your receipt for the contributions you made over the rest of the year will arrive in mid-January of the following year.

Am I going to get any follow-up on my portfolio?

Yes. You will receive four quarterly statements per year.

How can I get the forms I need to make changes?

Just contact your Bâtirente group union representative or the Bâtirente Member Services Centre at 1 800-463-6984 ext. 2.

When I retire, will I be able to receive pension benefits from Bâtirente?

Definitely, we provide the required pension benefit plans.

Consolidating assets with Bâtirente

Is it always advantageous to consolidate my assets with Bâtirente?

In the vast majority of cases, yes. Fees paid with Bâtirente are mostly lower than those offered in financial institutions.

How can I learn about the fees related to my Bâtirente plan?

Your financial statement indicates all fees paid into your account, under Investments available in your plan. These are expressed as a percentage (%).

I want to transfer my accounts to Bâtirente. How should I do it?

Just fill out a transfer form. The Member Services Centre can support you in this process. It’s possible to reach the centre at 1 800-463-6984 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Note that if you have not already joined Bâtirente, you must start by doing so.

I am a member of Bâtirente, but not my spouse. Can he/she become a member?

Yes. The spouse of a member is automatically eligible to participate in Bâtirente and enjoy the same advantageous costs as his group.

I have consolidated my RRSP assets at Bâtirente. Should I do the same thing with my TFSA?

Yes. The Bâtirente fees are the same for all types of plans in the same group. An investment in Bâtirente TFSA therefore benefits from the same cost savings as in the RRSP or another plan.

My financial institution charges me a fee to transfer my assets. Does Bâtirente reimburse these expenses?

No. Bâtirente’s expense policy does not provide for the reimbursement of these expenses. However, a simple calculation shows that the savings achieved through the reduced fee rate fully offset the costs associated with the transfer. Often even in a few months.

What is On Target Retirement?

On Target Retirement is a tool for tracking your retirement goals. By taking into account your accumulated savings, your investment habits and your investor profile, it allows you to simply project your income into retirement.

I am a CSN member, but my union does not participate in Bâtirente. Can I still transfer my assets to Bâtirente?

Yes. Any CSN union member, spouse and immediate family are eligible to participate in the Bâtirente pension system.

Is there not an increased risk of consolidating all my assets with Bâtirente?

No. Bâtirente does business with more than 10 investment managers. By investing in Bâtirente, members benefit from well-diversified, well-performing investments managed by a team of investment professionals. Consolidation does not expose the member to any additional financial risk.

I have another question. Who do I contact?

Our website batirente.com is a complete source of information about our retirement system. You can also reach the Member Services Center at 1 800-463-6984 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Responsible investment

What is responsible investment (RI)?

RI integrates a company’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria into the selection and management of investments at the same time that it contributes positively to important issues. RI protects assets while benefiting from replacement investments that can be characterized as cleaner and which are opportunities related to the ongoing necessary climate transition. What’s more, the same kinds of returns can be expected from these as with traditional investments, in a long-term perspective, but with potentially fewer risks.

What does the acronym ESG stand for?

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues are among the main drivers of change in today’s business world. They concern issues for society at large, yet these are also important economic questions with substantial implications for companies and investors.

What is shareholder engagement?

It’s a practice that uses shareholders’ power to directly influence a company’s deployment of sustainable business models. For example: submitting shareholder proposals, voting and initiating dialogues that have a real impact on the development of best practices in the companies in which we invest.

What is impact investing?

These are investments undertaken in companies, organizations or funds with the intention of generating a measurable impact benefiting society and the environment as well as a financial return.

Does Bâtirente invest in fossil fuels?

Yes. In choosing companies, Bâtirente focuses on their environmental performance without automatically writing off the fossil fuel sector. Through shareholder engagement, Bâtirente invests in companies, including those in the oil field, so it can then apply its shareholder power to influence these companies to adopt practices that are more mindful of ESG issues. This approach ensures that these companies adopt strategies that take into account the energy transition and climate change while reducing their carbon footprint in the medium term.

What is a carbon footprint?

A carbon footprint is a measurement of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of an investment or an investment portfolio.

Why is Bâtirente committed to climate action?

As an RI leader, we are aware that our actions must be part of a coherent approach that includes quantitative and qualitative objectives and an increased mobilization of the resources at our disposal. These objectives are commensurate with our size and resources, but also match the colossal civilizational challenge that global warming presents. With that in mind, Bâtirente unveiled its ambitious climate commitment in 2020.

What are the objectives of Bâtirente’s Climate Commitment?

Our aim is to progressively reduce our climate risk exposure by 50%, invest in the transition, target our shareholder engagement and collaborate with our partners. Since 2020, the actions taken lead us to believe that our goals for 2025 will be achieved. Link to results.

What are the Principles for Responsible Investment, or PRI?

This initiative was launched in 2006 by investors, including Bâtirente, in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) and the United Nations Global Compact. The PRI association believes that a sustainable and economically efficient global financial system is the key to long-term value creation. It also promotes sound governance, integrity and responsibility for investors.

What is the Montréal Carbon Pledge?

This is an initiative that was launched at the annual PRI in Person conference in Montréal in September 2014. By signing the pledge, institutional investors commit to measure and publicly disclose the carbon footprint of their investment portfolios.

What is the Climate Action 100+ group?

With Bâtirente among its participants, this initiative unites 700 investors from across the globe, with a total of US$68 billion under management, around a commitment targeting 166 of the largest corporate GHG emitters worldwide. Already 75% of the companies concerned have adopted net-zero emission targets for 2050. The initiative is preparing a long-term strategy for the 2023 to 2030 period.

What is Climate Engagement Canada (CEC)?

As a coalition of Canadian investors that includes founding member Bâtirente, CEC promotes dialogue between the financial community and Canadian companies to promote a just transition to a net-zero economy. The CEC program was launched in October 2021 with 27 investors as founding participants, who collectively manage more than C$3 trillion in assets.

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