113 The projected benefits obligation and fair value of assets for the defined benefit plans which were assumed on the acquisition of Blackburn Broadcasting and Power Broadcasting Inc. and post-retirement benefit plans for 2000 are as follows: Pension Other (thousands of Canadian dollars) benefits benefits Projected benefits obligation Beginning of year 3,547 1,056 Current service costs 35 – Interest costs 87 61 Actuarial gains – (15) Benefits paid (222) (76) End of year 3,447 1,026 Plan assets at fair value Beginning of year 5,265 – Return on plan assets 355 – Plan participants’ contributions 15 – Expenses (15) – Benefits paid (222) – End of year 5,398 – Funded status – (surplus) deficit (1,951) 1,026 Accrued benefit Unamortized gain 226 – Unamortized transitional asset 422 – Accrued benefit asset 1,303 – Valuation allowance (1,951) – Accrued benefit, net of valuation allowance – – Net benefit plan expense Service cost 35 – Interest cost 87 – Expected return on assets (129) – Amortization of prior service cost (1,295) – Valuation allowance provided against accrued benefit asset 1,421 – Net benefit plan expense 119 – Actuarial assumptions Discount rate 6% 6% Rate of compensation increase 3% – Expected return on plan assets 6% –