Public servants at Canada’s cyber spy agency can now apply for early retirement incentive

A sign for the Government of Canada's Communications Security Establishment (CSE) is seen outside their headquarters in the east end of Ottawa on Thursday, July 23, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Employees at Canada’s national cryptologic intelligence and security agency are now eligible to apply for the early retirement package being offered to public servants as part of the plan to trim the size of the federal public service.

Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSE) tells CTV News Ottawa it has updated its approach to the Early Retirement Incentive (ERI) program and the department is now participating in the program.

“Participation is being carefully managed in light of our operational requirements, and all applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account Treasury Board criteria and operational needs,” a spokesperson for CSE said.

The federal government’s 2025 budget 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.

As of June 9, the federal government had received 7,310 applications for the Early Retirement Incentive program. A total of 4,398 applications have been “confirmed to meet the criteria” and been approved, while 12 applications have been denied due to eligibility.

Federal public servants have until July 24 to apply for the Early Retirement Incentive program.

In April, the CSE said the agency and its employees did not “meet the established criteria” for the early retirement incentive.

Earlier this spring, officials at the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said front-line officers and staff in operational roles would not be eligible to apply for the early retirement program. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service said it was not undertaking any workforce adjustments and was not expecting the Early Retirement Incentive to be available to its employees.

Canada Border Services Agency

A spokesperson for the Canada Border Services Agency told CTV News Ottawa on Friday the criteria for the Early Retirement Incentive (ERI) program have not changed at the agency.

“Each application will be assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Treasury Board criteria: the organization needs to reduce its workforce; services to Canadians are maintained; current and future operational or business needs continue to be met,” the spokesperson said.

“This includes the need to strengthen our frontline operations through the hiring of 1,000 new CBSA officers.”

A spokesperson for the CBSA told CTV News Ottawa on Friday that all 14 applications from employees affected by workforce adjustment have been approved.

The CBSA previously said employees working on the front line at the border or inland, or in “other operational roles” would not be considered for the early retirement program. Employees in operational roles not eligible to apply for the ERI include enforcement, intelligence, risk assessment, national screening, trade compliance and certain IT and science positions.

RCMP

A spokesperson for the RCMP says regular and civilian members are not eligible for the Early Retirement Incentive, including police officers and specialized civilian members hired under the RCMP Act.

Public service employees with the RCMP are eligible to apply for the early retirement incentive.

The early retirement incentive plan

The federal government says to be eligible for early retirement, public servants must meet the following parameters on the day they retire.

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.”

As part of the early retirement incentive, employees must retire no later than Jan. 20, 2027.

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