PSPP Sponsor Board - Public Service Pension Plan

Under joint governance, employee and employer sponsor organizations share control of PSPP design and funding. These organizations appoint members to the PSPP Sponsor Board by giving notice to PSPP Corporation.

There is equal representation of employee and employer groups on the Sponsor Board:

Four employee representatives
Mike Dempsey, Jason Heistad, and Justin Huseby were appointed by the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees.
Alex Long was appointed by the University of Alberta Non-Academic Staff Association.

Four employer representatives
Shannon Marchand, Dan Stadlwieser, and David Williams were appointed by the Government of Alberta.
Mike Van Hee was appointed by the University of Calgary. (Note: The power to appoint one representative to the Sponsor Board rotates every three years between the University of Alberta and the University of Calgary.)

Dan Stadlwieser is the Chair of the Sponsor Board, and Justin Huseby is Vice-Chair.

Roles and Responsibilities

The Sponsor Board’s roles and responsibilities are set out in the Joint Governance of Public Sector Pension Plans Act and include:

making and amending Plan rules;
setting contribution rates;
establishing a funding policy;
reviewing the Corporation’s annual budget;
establishing a code of conduct and conflict of interest policy governing its members; and
determining how much the Corporation’s directors are paid.

The Sponsor Board may delegate its responsibilities to the Corporation where it is required in order to comply with the Employment Pension Plans Act or other applicable law.

Sponsor Board Rules & Policies

The PSPP Sponsor Board has authority to make rules governing the Sponsor Board itself and the Plan:

Sponsor Board meeting practices and procedures – Read: Rules of Order.
The composition of the Sponsor Board, subject to certain restrictions.
Remuneration to be paid to directors of the Corporation – Read: Director Remuneration policy
Funding principles for the Plan – Read: Funding Policy Statement
Withdrawal of a participating employer from the Plan.
Admission of new participating employers to the Plan, including approving or denying applications in the absence of any such rules.
Agreements entered into by the Corporation for the reciprocal transfer or portability of pension between PSPP and any other pension plan.
Costs, charges and expenses that may be charged to the Plan fund by the Corporation – Read: Plan Cost rules.

Sponsor Board Expense Disclosure

The Sponsor Board is committed to transparency, good governance and fiscal responsibility. As part of that commitment, the Sponsor Board discloses travel, meal and hospitality expenses of Sponsor Board members quarterly.