Question Period Note: Early Pension Eligibility for Safety and Security Workers

What is the government doing to deliver on its promise to provide early retirement for frontline safety and security workers?

• The Government of Canada values the important work of our frontline public service safety and security workers.
• We are committed to providing early retirement eligibility for these employees.

The Liberal Party platform committed to “Amend the Public Service Superannuation Act to expand early retirement eligibility, also known as “25 and out” for frontline employees including firefighters, paramedics, correctional service employees, border services officers, Parliamentary protection officers, and search and rescue.”
The operational service early retirement program allows eligible pension plan members to retire earlier with an immediate unreduced pension. This is commonly referred to as the “25 years- and-out" program. Historically, only certain employees of Correctional Services Canada have been eligible for operational service early retirement benefits.
On June 13, 2024, following receipt of a recommendation from the Public Service Pension Advisory Committee, the previous President of Treasury Board announced the Government’s intention to introduce legislative changes to expand early retirement benefits to frontline employees in certain occupational groups who critically promote and protect the safety and security of Canadians and participate in the federal public service pension plan. These include:
1. Firefighters (federal and territorial governments)
2. Paramedics (territorial governments)
3. Correctional service employees (territorial governments)
4. Border services officers (federal government)
5. Parliamentary protection officers (federal government)
6. Search and rescue technicians (federal government)
On December 16, 2024, the Government announced that the required statutory amendments to the Public Service Superannuation Act would be part of the implementing legislation for the 2024 Fall Economic Statement (FES). However, with the dissolution of Parliament on March 23, 2025, the implementation legislation did not proceed.

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