Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Extension of time limits—Royal Canadian Mounted Police Pension Plans
To: Active and retired members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
The Government of Canada would like to advise active and retired members of the RCMP that it has extended most of the time limits under the RCMP pension plans that would otherwise expire during the corona disease (COVID-19) pandemic for the period of March 13, 2020 to December 31, 2020 inclusively.
The Government of Canada recognizes that individuals could be negatively impacted if, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they fail to eet deadlines and time periods set by federal law. In response, the Government of Canada has passed the Time Limits and Other Periods Act (COVID 19) under part 3 of An Act respecting further COVID-19 measures (Bill C 20) that allows federal ministers to temporarily extend or suspend time limits included in federal legislation such as the one governing the RCMP pension plans.
The Minister of Public Safety has made orders enabling the temporary extension of time limits established by the RCMP Superannuation Act; under the RCMP Superannuation Regulations; Former Members of Parliament Counting of Service Regulations; and established by the RCMP Pension Continuation Regulations. These orders extend a number of time limits associated with:
- Exercising a right under pension legislation related to buying back or transferring service
- Revoking an election or an option you had already requested
- Submitting forms and documentation to support an application for an election or a survivor benefit; and
- Choosing the retirement benefit you want to receive, notably a transfer value
Time limits included in the orders have been extended up to a maximum of 180 days or to December 31, 2020, whichever is earlier, and are retroactive to March 13, 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic officially began.
If you are concerned that certain time limits related to your pension may expire during the pandemic or that you may have missed certain deadlines since March 13, 2020, contact the Government of Canada Pension Centre. The Pension Centre will explain whether the time limit associated with your particular case may be extended.
The Government of Canada would also like to remind RCMP active and retired members that several existing provisions are available to provide flexibility that may be helpful during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are having difficulty meeting your obligations or deadlines for pension-related transactions, contact the Pension Centre who will explain the options that are available to you based on your circumstances.
The full list of orders made by ministers can be found on the website of the Department of Justice (click on “Orders and Regulations”). The order related to the RCMP Superannuation Act including the RCMP Superannuation Regulations and Former Members of Parliament Counting of Service Regulations can be found on the explanatory note and the order related to the RCMP Pension Continuation Regulations can be found on the explanatory note as well.