Pension Plan

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Notes to Financial Statements

Pension Plan

13. Pension Plan

The Company sponsors a defined benefit pension plan in which a majority of its Canadian employees are members. The employer contributes 100% to the plan. The benefits, or the rate per year of credit service, are established by the Company and updated at its discretion.

The components of the expense the Company incurred under the pension plan are as follows (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30,						September 30,
	2011			2010			2011			2010
Current service cost, net of employee contributions	$	4		$	11		$	21		$	31
Interest cost on accrued benefit obligation		37			36			111			107
Expected return on plan assets		(39	)		(33	)		(117	)		(102	)
Amortization of transitional obligation		3			3			10			9
Amortization of past service costs		2			1			7			3
Amortization of net actuarial gain		9			9			24			23
Total cost of benefit	$	16		$	27		$	56		$	71

Cost of Benefits

The Company’s policy is to fund the pension plan at or above the minimum level required by law. The Company made $141,000 and $170,000 of contributions to its defined benefit pension plan during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Changes in the discount rate and actual investment returns that are lower than the long-term expected return on plan assets could result in the Company making additional contributions.