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Global Market Insights

Desjardins Sells Assistance Services Unit to CanAssistance, June 11

June 11, 2026
10:11 PM
2 min read

Key Points

CanAssistance acquires Assistel inc. and becomes exclusive provider.

10-year strategic partnership strengthens both companies' market positions.

Desjardins focuses on core financial services while outsourcing support.

Desjardins ETFs maintain B grade with HOLD recommendation.

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Desjardins Financial Security has entered a 10-year strategic partnership with CanAssistance, which includes the acquisition of Assistel inc. CanAssistance will now serve as the exclusive provider of assistance services for all Desjardins members and clients. The deal marks a significant restructuring of Desjardins’ support operations and strengthens CanAssistance’s position in the Canadian insurance services market.

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CanAssistance Takes Over Desjardins Support Services

CanAssistance, part of the Canadian Hospital Service Association Group operating under Quebec Blue Cross and Ontario Blue Cross brands, acquired Assistel inc. through this partnership. The company will now handle all assistance services for Desjardins members and clients under a 10-year exclusive agreement. This consolidation allows CanAssistance to expand its service footprint across Canada’s largest financial cooperative.

Why Desjardins Made This Move

By outsourcing assistance services to a specialized provider, Desjardins can focus on core financial operations. CanAssistance brings dedicated expertise in customer support and emergency services. The partnership reflects a broader trend among financial institutions to streamline operations by partnering with specialized service providers rather than managing all functions in-house.

Impact on Desjardins ETF Investors

Desjardins-managed ETFs like DANC.TO (Market Neutral ETF at C$22.37) and DCP.TO (Canadian Preferred Share Index at C$22.40) hold a Meyka grade of B with a HOLD suggestion. The sale of Assistel does not directly affect fund performance, as these are passive index funds. However, it signals Desjardins’ strategic focus on optimizing its financial services business. Meyka’s 12-month price target for DCP.TO is C$23.84, suggesting limited upside from current levels.

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Final Thoughts

Desjardins’ partnership with CanAssistance streamlines operations and allows both companies to specialize. For Desjardins ETF investors, this restructuring has minimal direct impact on fund holdings or performance.

FAQs

What did Desjardins sell to CanAssistance?

Desjardins sold Assistel inc., its assistance services subsidiary, to CanAssistance under a 10-year agreement to provide member assistance services.

Does this affect Desjardins ETF performance?

No. Desjardins ETFs remain passive index funds with unchanged holdings and investment strategy following the Assistel sale.

Why did Desjardins make this deal?

Outsourcing assistance services allows Desjardins to focus on core financial operations while leveraging CanAssistance’s specialized customer support expertise.

Disclaimer:

The content shared by Meyka AI PTY LTD is solely for research and informational purposes.  Meyka is not a financial advisory service, and the information provided should not be considered investment or trading advice.

About Author

Author

Huzaifa Zahoor

Co Founder

Huzaifa Zahoor is the engineer who built Meyka. He has spent years writing Python, training AI models, and building data pipelines specifically for financial markets. His technical articles have reached over 30,000 readers on Medium, so he knows how to make complex things easy to follow. If this article touches on how the tools work, he is the person who actually built them.

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