Ontario has no mandatory retirement age. The province abolished mandatory retirement in 2006, which means employees are no longer required to retire at the age of 65.
This policy applies equally to all individuals, regardless of gender. Any practice or policy that forces one gender to retire earlier than the other would violate the Ontario Human Rights Code.
You can continue working as long as you are able and willing, regardless of your age or gender.
Retirement in Ontario is entirely a personal decision. There is no minimum or maximum age set by provincial law. You can retire at 55, 60, 65, 70, or beyond — the choice is yours.
What does change at certain ages are your government benefit eligibility dates, which many people confuse with a mandatory retirement age. They are not the same thing.
Key Ages and Government Benefits
Age 60 — Early CPP
You can begin collecting Canada Pension Plan (CPP) benefits as early as age 60, but your monthly payments will be permanently reduced by 0.6% for each month before age 65 — up to a maximum reduction of 36%. The earlier you take it, the less you receive each month for the rest of your life.
Age 65 — Standard CPP and OAS
Age 65 is the standard age to begin collecting both CPP and Old Age Security (OAS). At this age you receive the full CPP amount based on your contributions, and OAS begins automatically if you qualify. This is the age most people associate with “retirement” — but it is a benefits threshold, not a legal requirement to stop working.
Age 70 — Maximum CPP and OAS Deferral
If you delay taking CPP past 65, your monthly payment increases by 0.7% for each month you wait — up to age 70, where the maximum increase is 42% above the standard amount. OAS can similarly be deferred to age 70 for a higher monthly benefit. After 70, there is no further advantage to delaying either benefit.
Age 71 — RRSP Conversion Deadline
You must convert your RRSP to a RRIF (Registered Retirement Income Fund) or annuity by December 31 of the year you turn 71. After this point you can no longer contribute to an RRSP, and minimum annual withdrawals from your RRIF begin. This is a tax rule, not an employment rule — but it affects retirement planning significantly.
Can Your Employer Force You to Retire?
No. Forcing an employee to retire because of age is illegal under the Ontario Human Rights Code — for both men and women equally. Your employer cannot:
- Set a mandatory retirement age in your contract
- Pressure you to retire based on your age
- Demote, sideline, or terminate you because of your age
If this happens to you, you may have both a wrongful dismissal claim and a human rights complaint.
Early Retirement Package? Read Before You Sign
If your employer offers an early retirement incentive, it is voluntary — you cannot be forced to accept it. It will almost certainly include a release ending your right to claim more. Get legal advice before signing anything.
The bottom line: No mandatory retirement age exists in Ontario — for men or women. You work until you decide to stop. If your employer is pushing you out the door because of your age, that is not retirement. That is discrimination.
