Proposed Expansion of the Operational Service Early Retirement Program
The following proposals are pending approval by Parliament as part of Budget 2025 and its implementation legislation. Please bookmark this page for future updates.
Government Commitment
The Government of Canada has reaffirmed its commitment to broaden the operational service early retirement program to include frontline employees from additional occupational groups. Legislative and regulatory changes are required to enact this expansion.
Program Overview
The operational service program enables eligible plan members to retire earlier with an immediate, unreduced pension after completing 25 years of actual operational service. Members can also retire at age 50 with a combination of at least 10 years of actual service and 10 years of “deemed” operational service.
Like all public service pension plan participants, employees in this program accumulate pensionable service at about 2% per year, resulting in an approximate 50% pension benefit after 25 years.
Groups Affected by the Expansion
This expansion targets frontline federal workers, recognizing the demanding nature of their duties to protect Canadians.
- Border services officers
- Parliamentary protection officers
- Search and rescue personnel
- Federal and territorial firefighters
- Paramedics
- Correctional employees
"The operational service program allows certain eligible plan members to retire earlier with an immediate unreduced pension after completing 25 years of actual operational service."
"Eligible plan members can also retire at age 50 with at least 10 years of actual and 10 years of 'deemed' operational service."
Summary
This proposed expansion acknowledges the critical roles of frontline workers by providing them with earlier retirement opportunities and enhanced pension benefits.
Author's Summary
The expansion of the early retirement program aims to reward Canada's frontline federal employees with more flexible and improved pension options, reflecting their essential public safety roles.