Membership

When am I eligible for membership?

Your membership begins when you start making contributions to the Plan. Once you are a member of the Plan, you will keep contributing as long as you have an assigned work week. You cannot choose to stop contributing if your assigned hours are less than 12 hours per week.

Membership is mandatory, but there are some exceptions. The tables below explain when you are eligible.

If you are... then your membership begins...
in an indeterminate position or in a position of more than six months and a on your first day of work.
in a position of six months or less and a
  • full-time employee, or
  • part-time employee hired on or after July 4, 1994, with assigned hours of at least 12 hours per week,
 on the day following six months of continuous employment.
a postmaster in a corporate-owned or leased group office, once your survey hours are at least 12 hours per week
a postmaster in a privately owned or leased group office, once your survey hours are at least 12 hours per week
a temporary employee represented by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers – Urban Postal Operations, on the day you start a long-term replacement assignment.
a term* employee represented by the Canadian Postmasters and Assistants Association (CPAA),

*CPAA term employees are considered temporary employees as defined in the Plan 		on the day you start a long-term replacement assignment.

Note: As a part-time employee, at a minimum, your membership begins on the day that you complete two years of uninterrupted service with Canada Post and have earned 35% of the year's maximum pensionable earnings (YMPE) in each of the two preceding calendar years.



If you are a part-time employee hired before July 4, 1994, who... then you...
  • had assigned hours of at least 12 hours per week and
  • opted not to join the Plan,
 may choose to join the Plan at anytime, as long as you are in an eligible position. Your membership will begin the first day of the pay period after your enrolment form is received by the Pension Centre. You must contact the Pension Centre to request the necessary form.
  • had assigned hours of at least 12 hours per week,
  • opted not to join the Plan, and
  • is appointed as a full-time employee,
 automatically join the Plan on the date of your appointment.
  • had assigned hours of at least 12 hours per week,
  • opted not to join the Plan, and
  • accepts an assignment as a full-time employee,
 automatically join the Plan
  • on the day of your assignment if the assignment is for more than three months, or
  • on the day after completing three consecutive months if the assignments are less than three months.

When am I not eligible for membership?

You are not eligible for membership

  • after the end of the year in which you reach age 71, as stated in the Income Tax Rules;
  • if you are receiving a pension benefit from Canada Post or a related employer; you may have an option to suspend receiving your pension benefit while re-employed and begin contributing again.