Allow members to continue to accrue benefits in the plan during the current unpaid emergency leaves without the requirement for member or employer contributions.  This applies to the Province-wide declared emergency to members on either a statutory emergency leave or within the first 15 weeks of an unpaid health leave.  

 The free service is only to be granted for the portion of the qualifying leave:  

• that falls within the period of the emergency declared by the Province of Ontario under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act due to COVID-19, starting on March 17, 2020; and  

• during which the member has no pensionable earnings from the employer.  

 Note: members on a health leave will be able to apply for free accrual after the first 15 weeks, per normal disability benefit practices. The end date of the provincial emergency is currently unknown. 

IMAGE OF PROCESS (if needed)

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