The federal government is offering an early retirement incentive to help reduce the size of the public service. Thousands of federal public servants are currently mulling over a pivotal career decision: whether to accept or decline their employer's offer of an early retirement incentive. The program allows federal employees to leave early without being penalized for cashing out their pension. It's part of the government's larger strategy to reduce the size of the federal public service. Under then prime minister Stephen Harper, thousands of federal public servants accepted targeted buyouts and early departure packages during an earlier effort to reduce a budget deficit.

Source: CBC News April 02, 2026 05:02 UTC