Federal public servants have 10 days left to apply for early retirement package

Thousands of federal workers have applied for early retirement packages as the federal government looks to trim the public service. CTV’s Austin Lee reports.

More than 6,000 federal public servants have been approved for an early retirement package, with 10 days left for employees to apply for the program as part of the federal government’s plan to cut the size of the public service.

The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat says, as of July 14, 8,590 public servants have applied for the early retirement incentive program, with 6,313 applications “confirmed to meet the criteria.”

Only 23 applications have been denied for the early retirement package.

The Liberal government launched the Early Retirement Incentive Program this spring, inviting eligible public servants to apply to retire with an “immediate pension based on years of service, with no reduction for retiring early.”

Last December, approximately 68,000 public servants received notices informing them they could be eligible for early retirement.

Federal employees eligible to apply for the early retirement package have until July 24 to apply for the incentive program, and they must retire by Jan. 20, 2027.

The government says being eligible for the early retirement incentive program does not guarantee your application will be approved. The Deputy Head in a department will review the applications to confirm whether the following Treasury Board-approved criteria have been met:

• The organization needs to reduce its workforce
• Services to Canadians will be maintained
• Current and future operational or business needs will continue to be met

The Canada Strong Budget 2025, released in November, outlined a plan to cut the size of the federal public service by 28,000 positions by 2029, including 12,000 employees and 350 executive positions cut through attrition and early retirement packages.

Early retirement eligibility

The federal government says to be eligible for early retirement, you must meet the following parameters on the day you leave the public service.

Group 1: Members who joined the public service pension plan on or before Dec. 31, 2012, and who:

• Are at least 50 years old
• Have at least two years of pensionable service
• Have at least 10 years of employment in the public service

Group 2: Members who joined the public service pension plan on or after Jan. 1, 2013, and who:

• Are at least 55 years old
• Have at least two years of pensionable service
• Have at least 10 years of employment in the public service

According to the government’s website, meeting the eligibility parameters for the Early Retirement Incentive “does not guarantee you will be approved.”

“Your Deputy Head (or equivalent) will review your application to confirm whether the following Treasury Board-approved criteria have been met — the organization needs to reduce its workforce, services to Canadians will be maintained, and current and future operational or business needs will continue to be met.”

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