The COLA matches the percentage change between the September 2024 and September 2025 Canadian consumer price index (CPI). Learn more about the CPI below.

If you retired partway through 2025, your 2026 COLA is pro-rated based on the number of months you received a pension in 2025.

The plan rules allow us to grant an annual COLA up to the annual percentage increase in the CPI. It is a priority for us to provide sustainable COLAs so your pension maintains its purchasing power. COLAs are not guaranteed, but once granted, they become part of your basic pension and, if applicable, your bridge benefit and temporary annuity for as long as you receive them.

If you compare COLAs across different BC public sector pension plans, you may notice variations. That’s because each plan uses a slightly different method to calculate COLAs. Averaged over time, however, you receive a similar COLA as members of other plans.

The plan uses money in the inflation adjustment account (IAA) to pay for COLAs. Member and employer contributions and investment returns fund both the IAA and the basic account that pays your basic pension.

What is the CPI?

Statistics Canada calculates the CPI every month. The CPI measures the monthly and annual changes in the cost of hundreds of goods and services (in categories as diverse as food, housing, clothing, transportation and recreation), weighted according to how much Canadians spend on each good or service. Statistics Canada determined that the price of these goods and services increased 2.4 per cent between September 2024 and September 2025.