Royal assent for Bill C-15 delivers early retirement for certain roles
Frontline federal workers are one step closer to retiring with dignity, as new pension reforms recognize the physical and psychological toll of keeping Canadians safe.
With Bill C‑15 having received Royal Assent on March 26, 2026, the federal government is moving ahead with changes that will allow thousands of public safety workers to retire after 25 years of service — without penalty.
The reforms amend the Public Service Superannuation Act to extend a special operational service retirement program to more frontline occupations, bringing pensions more in line with those of other law enforcement and public safety personnel across Canada, including employees of Correctional Service Canada, the Canadian Armed Forces and the RCMP.
“This victory belongs to the frontline workers who never stopped fighting for fairness,” said Sharon DeSousa, PSAC national president. “For years, these workers have protected our communities, while facing real risks and trauma. It’s time their retirement finally reflects the realities of their work, one that is fair, equitable and worthy of the sacrifices they make every day.”
Career mobility recognized
Workers expected to benefit include frontline border services staff, search and rescue technicians, wildland firefighters, firefighters on military bases, and correctional officers, paramedics and firefighters working for the three territorial governments.
The government has emphasized that the measures also recognize career mobility. Frontline service years will be transferable between covered roles, and workers who move into non‑frontline positions will remain eligible under the early retirement provisions if they complete a minimum of 10 years of frontline service and pay an additional contribution rate.
Budget 2025 notes that the goal is to “ensure consistency in treatment for all eligible employees, allowing for career mobility within the public service,” mirroring provisions already in place for Correctional Service Canada employees in federal correctional institutions.
‘Extremely good news’ for workers
For border services officers, the reforms help correct what unions have called a long‑standing gap with other public safety agencies.
“Border officers work in demanding roles and face similar physical risks as other law enforcement officers. I am happy to see the federal government listening to unions and addressing this long-standing inequality," said CIU national president Mark Weber.
PSAC says timely implementation will be critical for workers who have already spent decades in hazardous roles.
“We’re glad the government is following through on their platform promise to provide equitable retirement for frontline workers in the budget,” said DeSousa. “This must be one of the first orders of business after the budget passes so these essential workers can retire with dignity — now, not years from now.”
Bill C‑15 also introduced a voluntary Early Retirement Incentive (ERI) as part of the government’s Comprehensive Expenditure Review. The ERI is intended to support what Ottawa calls a “strategic, compassionate federal workforce reduction,” with a preference for prioritising attrition rather than layoffs.
