The federal government is taking steps to expand early retirement eligibility for some types of frontline workers.
Treasury Board President Anita Anand said Thursday that the Liberals plan to introduce legislation this fall to make it happen.
Anand says the changes would allow some workers to retire after 25 years of service without a pension reduction.
The provision is now available to military members, RCMP officers and some correctional workers.
Border service officers, parliamentary protection officers, search and rescue technicians and federally employed firefighters are expected to be eligible.
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Early retirement will also be available to correctional employees, firefighters and paramedics employed by territorial governments.
The Public Services Alliance of Canada says that will include wildland firefighters who work for Parks Canada, as well as firefighters who work on military bases.
“These proposed changes would provide consistency in how the pension plan recognizes the demanding nature of the daily tasks of these occupational groups, which play a critical role in promoting and protecting the security of Canadians,” Anand said in a statement.
Most federal pension plan members must reach age 60 or 65, or have completed 30 years of pensionable service, before they can receive a full pension.
The Public Services Alliance of Canada hailed the decision as a “significant victory” in a news release Thursday, saying thousands of front-line public safety and law enforcement workers will benefit.
© 2024 The Canadian Press
