OTTAWA - A survey suggests a significant majority of small businesses are taking a look at a new pension vehicle unveiled by Ottawa and many would consider contributing themselves.
The survey by Leger Marketing on behalf of the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association suggests 68 per cent of small firms not offering pensions at the moment have interest in the new pooled registered pension plans.
And 73 per cent of those say they would look at ways their firms could contribute to the plans.
The poll of over 800 executives from small and medium-sized businesses across Canada was conducted in the first two weeks of December. It is considered accurate plus or minus 3.5 per cent, 19 times out of 20.
The federal government unveiled the pooled plans last year in lieu of expanding the Canada Pension Plan.
But because the new savings vehicle is strictly voluntary -- firms don't have to offer it, and neither employees nor employers have to contribute -- the effectiveness of the plan remains in question.
The federal proposal was supported by financial institutions which stand to benefit from administering the pooled plans.
