Reflections from Simone Reitzes, Managing Director, Medicus Pension Plan
The importance of good governance
At Medicus, strong governance is more than a framework. At a recent team offsite, I took the opportunity to check in on a few topics that are top of mind right now. One of them was governance. It can sound formal, even a little abstract, but in practice good governance lays the foundation for sustainability by shaping the decisions we make every day.
I asked the group a simple question, “What does good governance mean to you?” The answers came back quickly and with clarity: protection, accountability, trust, stewardship and integrity. What stood out to me was not just that our team members used similar words, but that they spoke about governance with real conviction.
I’m proud of that. Governance isn't a box to be checked or a formal framework to follow. For the team members making decisions for the plan every day, it’s personal. It’s reflected in how the team thinks about their responsibilities: protecting members’ interests, carefully managing risk, maintaining strong oversight and ensuring the plan remains resilient over the long term.
That care and scrutiny are part of what give our governance structure its strength and helps build trust within the physician community.
What governance means at Medicus
Physicians spend their careers caring for others and they should expect their pension plan to be cared for with the same integrity.
At its core, good governance means having the right structure, discipline and accountability in place to protect members' interests and support sound decisions over time. For Medicus, it means giving members confidence in how their pension is overseen and how the plan is built to support long-term retirement security.
Our formal oversight includes our Administrative Board and Plan Sponsor Committee. These groups bring together physicians and specialists in relevant disciplines to help manage the financial health of the keep the best interests of Canada’s physicians at the centre of their decision-making. (You can learn more about them here.)
Beyond this formal oversight are the principles that guide decision-making day to day. Trust and accountability come from being reliable, consistent and committed to doing the right thing. As one team member put it, “safety equals security,” which captures the sentiment well.
How we protect pensions
To deliver the pensions physicians expect in retirement, Medicus backs every pension with assets held in trust and supports that commitment through multiple layers of governance.
As with any pension plan, Medicus must comply with provincial and federal legislation. It’s registered under the Pension Benefits Act (Ontario) and the Income Tax Act (Canada), with regulatory oversight helping ensure the plan continues to meet its obligations. Our Administrative Board is required to act in the best interest of plan members, working with an independent actuary who monitors the ongoing health of Medicus.
The promise to Medicus members
Medicus was built with the discipline, experience and depth of MD Financial Management and Scotiabank behind it. From the outset, the plan was designed with the structure and oversight needed to support physicians and their families for generations to come.
I’m proud that our teams have helped deliver a sense of confidence, stability and peace of mind through the work we are doing at Medicus. For members, that confidence comes from knowing the plan was thoughtfully designed around the needs of physicians and their families and that they can rely on a predictable, monthly pension for the rest of their lives.
