Federal public servants across Canada are racing against the clock, with only hours remaining to submit applications for the government’s early retirement program before the window closes at 2:59 a.m. ET.
According to figures posted on the Treasury Board’s website, more than 9,100 applications had come in as of Tuesday. Officials caution, however, that these numbers are still preliminary, with a complete tally not expected until sometime next week at the earliest.
The initiative is part of a broader federal strategy aimed at shrinking the size of the public service. Rather than relying solely on layoffs, the government is offering longtime employees a voluntary path out one that comes with a notable incentive.
The rollout began quietly in December, when roughly 68,000 public servants who might qualify for the program started receiving letters outlining the details and their eligibility.
To qualify, workers must be at least 50 years old, have a minimum of 10 years on the job, and have accumulated at least two years of pensionable service. Those who meet the criteria and receive approval can walk away with an immediate pension calculated on their years of service without facing the financial penalty that typically applies to those who retire ahead of schedule.
Despite the scale of the program, the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat is downplaying any notion that it’s pushing employees toward a specific exit quota. Spokesperson Rola Salem said in a written statement that retirement remains an individual choice, adding that the department has not set a target number for how many employees it hopes will take the offer.
As the deadline approaches, attention will likely shift to how many of the eligible 68,000 ultimately decided to take the leap and what that means for the future shape of Canada’s federal workforce.
