Group 5 – Police officers and firefighters

For employers of police officers or firefighters

Group 5 is the employee group established to provide an enhanced retirement benefit for police officers and firefighters.

• As of January 1, 2025, participation in group 5 is mandatory for police officers and/or firefighters (including chiefs and deputies), with the exception of employees of a “pre-2025 group 2 employer.”
• Prior to January 1, 2025, participation in group 2 was automatic for police officers and/or firefighters, and participation in group 5 required the employer and the union to collectively bargain an agreement.

Employees in group 5 have a higher benefit accrual rate, meaning their retirement benefit will accumulate faster. This is valuable because police officers and firefighters have an earlier retirement age of 50, and the pension provided to them in group 5 strengthens employers’ ability to recruit and retain employees.

Contribution rates

Contribution rates are higher for group 5; however, this does not necessarily mean your contributions overall will increase by that percentage. Contribution rates for group 1 and group 5 employees are calculated separately.

If an employee has service in both group 1 and group 5 or is working in group 5 at the same time as they are working in another group, they will receive two Member’s Benefit Statements each year. These statements will show their current and future pension benefits for each group separately.

Group 5 has different contribution rates from group 1, and funds for group 5 are remitted and reported separately from funds for group 1 members. Contribution rates are set by the board. Rates are based on a valuation by the plan actuary to ensure the pension liability is fully funded. A valuation is conducted at least every three years. If the valuation determines there is an unfunded liability, any required increase in total contributions would be shared equally by members and employers. The plan has a rate stabilization account and a group contribution rate rebalancing account that help protect against potential future rate fluctuations.

For more information

Employees can learn more about group 5 on the member website.

If you are an employer looking to move from group 2 to group 5, please see the Employer Group 5 Enrolment Application form.