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Sharing Pension Benefits

Both the Canada Pension Plan and The Pension Benefits Act of Manitoba provide for sharing of pension benefits between married spouses and either same-sex or opposite-sex common-law partners, in certain circumstances.

The federal Pension Benefits Standards Act, which governs federally-regulated industries like banks and airlines, provides that provincial property law applies to the division of pension benefits between married spouses or common-law partners when their relationship ends. The federal Pension Benefits Standards Act, which applies to federal public servants, members of the Canadian Forces, RCMP and the like, allows for applications to divide a plan member’s pension benefits with a spouse or common-law partner, where there is a court order or written agreement to do so.