Manufacturers Life Insurance Co. says it will maintain its dividend scale on all dividend-paying life insurance policies in Canada at current levels for the period July 1, 2001 to June 30, 2002.

As a result, total policy owner dividends in Canada are estimated at $128.9 million for 2001. This is an increase of 7.8% from total dividends paid in the previous calendar year.

“This is the fourth year in a row that we’ve maintained our dividend scales,” said Bruce Gordon, Manulife executive vice president of Canadian Operations. “The last change we had was an increase in 1997. We’re pleased to maintain our dividend scales this year, despite the extreme fluctuations in equity markets.”

Participating policies are attractive to clients who are not interested in managing the day-to-day investment mix and who are attracted by the historical stability of long term returns within the policy. Dividends are not guaranteed and that actual dividends depend on investment performance, expense management and the total death benefits paid.