Federal legislation authorizing the Early Retirement Incentive received Royal Assent on March 26, 2026, and the program is now in effect.
This page provides general information for Government of the Northwest Territories employees about the Early Retirement Incentive (ERI) under the federal Public Service Pension Plan. It is intended to support informed decision making for participation in this federal program and where to find authoritative information.
Ahead of submitting an application, employees must notify their manager of their intent to apply to the Early Retirement Incentive and discuss possible retirement dates.
About the Early Retirement Incentive
The ERI allows eligible employees to retire early with an immediate, unreduced pension, calculated based on years of pensionable service. Normally, retiring before the standard eligibility age would result in a reduced pension; under the ERI, that reduction does not apply.
Participation is:
- Voluntary: applying is a personal decision
- Temporary: the program is time‑limited
- Conditional: approval is not automatic
Key Dates
Application period: March 26 to July 24, 2026
Latest possible retirement date if approved: January 20, 2027
Applications submitted after July 24, 2026 cannot be considered.
Eligibility overview
Eligibility is determined under federal pension legislation and is based on age, pensionable service, and public service employment history.
Eligible employees will receive a confirmation letter or email from the Public Sector Pension Plan if they meet the basic age and service eligibility criteria. If an employee does not receive a letter, but believes they are eligible, they should contact the Pension Centre before discussing ERI with their manager.
Important: Meeting eligibility criteria does not guarantee approval.
GROUP 1
Joined the Pension Plan on or before December 31, 2012
• At least 50 years old
• At least 2 years of pensionable service
• At least 10 years of public service employment
GROUP 2
Joined the Pension Plan on or after January 1, 2013
• At least 55 years old
• At least 2 years of pensionable service
• At least 10 years of public service employment
Eligibility criteria must be met during the 300‑day program period, from March 26, 2026 to January 20, 2027. Employees who become eligible during this period may only retire after meeting the eligibility requirements and before the program ends.
Approval Is Not Automatic:
While eligibility is set by the federal government, approval depends on operational considerations. Departments may only support applications where they can confirm that:
- There is a need to reduce the workforce
- Services to residents can continue to be maintained
- Current and future operational and business needs can continue to be met
Applications are reviewed case by case. Applications require certification by the Deputy Head and final approval by the Deputy Minister responsible for the Public Service before a retirement date can be confirmed.
First step: Talking with a manager
Employees who are considering applying must speak with their manager or supervisor before submitting an application.
These early discussions help:
- Clarify how an application could affect the team or service area
- Set realistic expectations about approval
- Support service continuity and workforce planning
Ahead of submitting an application, employees must notify their manager of their intent to apply to the Early Retirement Incentive and discuss possible retirement dates.
Speaking with a manager does not commit an employee to applying. Once an application has received final approval and the manager has formally accepted the resignation (after the required waiting period), the retirement date becomes irrevocable. An exception applies if the Pension Centre later determines that eligibility requirements were not met.
Preparing to make an informed decision
Employees considering retirement under any program are encouraged to:
- Review official federal program information
- Create a pension estimate using the pension calculator
- Book a pension counselling appointment to understand personal financial impacts
- Download and complete the application form if they decide to proceed
These steps can help clarify how different retirement options may affect you personally.
How to apply
Eligible GNWT employees must complete the following internal steps for consideration under the federal Early Retirement Incentive program. Approval is required before a retirement date can be confirmed.
Step 1: Eligibility confirmation
- Employees review the federal Early Retirement Incentive information.
- Employees who receive a written eligibility letter from the Pension Centre may proceed.
- Employees who believe they are eligible but did not receive a letter must contact the Pension Centre before proceeding.
Step 2: Employee discussion with manager
- Employees are expected to speak with their manager or supervisor before submitting an application. This discussion occurs ahead of any formal submission.
Step 3: Application submission
- Employees complete Section A of the federal Early Retirement Incentive application form.
- The application and the eligibility letter are submitted to:
- the employee’s manager, and
- the GNWT Early Retirement Incentive Coordinator in the Department of Finance (GNWT_ERI_Admin@gov.nt.ca).
- The Early Retirement Incentive Coordinator will validate employee eligibility within five business days and forward the application to the applicable Deputy Head for consideration, copying the employee's manager.
- Applications must be submitted no later than July 24, 2026.
Step 4: Deputy Head certification
- The GNWT Early Retirement Incentive Coordinator reviews the application and forwards it to the applicable Deputy Head.
- Deputy Heads assess applications on a case‑by‑case basis and determine whether program criteria established by the Treasury Board of Canada are met, including:
- the need to reduce the workforce,
- the ability to maintain services to residents, and
- the ability to meet current and future operational and business needs.
- The Deputy Head records their decision in the application documentation.
Step 5: Final approval
- Applications that receive Deputy Head certification are forwarded for final approval to the Deputy Minister responsible for the Public Service.
- Managers must wait the required waiting period before accepting a resignation.
- Once a resignation is accepted following final approval, the retirement date cannot be changed.
- Retirement dates must be no later than January 20, 2027.
Step 6: Submission to the Pension Centre
- The GNWT Early Retirement Incentive Coordinator submits approved applications to the Pension Centre.
- Employees are notified once their application has been forwarded.
- No additional retirement application is required from the employee at this stage.