C-256An Act to amend certain Acts in relation to survivor pension benefits
Private member's bill, introduced in the House of Commons on November 7, 2025
- Status
- At second reading in the House of Commons since November 7, 2025
What it does
Lets survivors receive federal pension benefits even if the relationship started after age 60 or after retirement.
What it does
- Lets survivors receive pension benefits under several federal plans even when the marriage or conjugal relationship began after age 60 or after retirement.
- Changes survivor rules for MPs, former MPs, prime ministers and former prime ministers so the survivor must have been married immediately before death or lived in a conjugal relationship for at least one year before death.
- Repeals options in several federal pension laws that let some contributors, judges and MPs reduce their own pensions or allowances, and treats past reduction choices as revoked.
- Raises child allowances in the Canadian Forces, Public Service and RCMP plans when there is no eligible survivor, the survivor is dead, or the survivor cannot receive an allowance.
- Requires survivors to receive variable benefits or payments from defined contribution accounts, and keeps joint and survivor pension benefits when a member has a spouse or common-law partner at the time payments start or later.
Who it affects
- Surviving spouses and common-law partners
- Members of Parliament
- Prime ministers and former prime ministers
- Canadian Forces members
- Public servants
- RCMP members
- Judges
- Pension plan members
Background
The bill amends seven federal pension and retirement laws, plus rules for some private pension plans. The drafters say it removes a limit tied to marriage or cohabitation after age 60 or after retirement.
Where it is
House of Commons
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Current stage. Now here
Committee
Not reached.
Report stage
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Senate
First reading
Not reached.
Second reading
Not reached.
Committee
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Royal assent
Royal assent
Not reached.
Introduced by an MP who is not a minister. These bills compete in a lottery for debate time, and most do not become law. How a bill becomes law
How the House voted
No recorded votes yet
What MPs said
Each party’s first speech on this bill in the House, from Hansard. Excerpts are the speaker’s opening sentences, unedited.
NDPGord Johns· November 7, 2025
“Moved for leave to introduce Bill C-256, An Act to amend certain Acts in relation to survivor pension benefits. It is an honour to introduce this bill just ahead of Remembrance Day next week.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.ca
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: Outside the Order of Precedence. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.