Highlights of our history

1973 - CARR is created to administer RREGOP

On December 22, 1973, the National Assembly adopted an act (S.Q., 1973, c. 12) that created the Government and Public Employees Retirement Plan (RREGOP) and established the Commission administrative du régime de retraite (CARR) to administer it.

The act, which was retroactive to July 1, 1973, also authorized CARR to administer any other pension or insurance plan entrusted to it by statute or by order in council. Gradually, CARR therefore took over the administration of the Civil Service Superannuation Plan (CSSP), the Teachers Pension Plan (TPP), the Pension Plan of Certain Teachers (PPCT) and others.

1983 - CARR becomes CARRA

Bill 24, which came into effect on July 1, 1983, changed CARR's name, among other things. Henceforth, the commission would be known as the Commission administrative des régimes de retraite et d'assurances (CARRA)

Under this legislation, CARRA was given two additional responsibilities: administering the basic life insurance plan in force in the public and parapublic sectors and helping employers administer the various basic salary insurance plans provided for in the collective agreements. Employers maintained full responsibility for the administration of these salary insurance plans, however.

1995 - CARRA becomes an autonomous service unit

On June 13, 1995, CARRA became the first autonomous service unit in the public service. The adoption of this new results-based management framework was consistent with the Québec government's overall goal of accountability.

1996 - CARRA becomes a non-budgetary organization

In December 1996, the National Assembly adopted Bill 73, which amended CARRA's status and the method of financing it, retroactively to April 1, 1996. Administrative expenses for RREGOP and the Pension Plan of Management Personnel (PPMP) would henceforth be paid in equal portions by the plan members and by the government. CARRA thus became a non-budgetary organization, since its budget was no longer voted by the National Assembly.

These amendments also affected CARRA's role, since it was mandated to administer only the pension plans. Activities related to salary insurance and group insurance agreements became the responsibility of the Secrétariat du Conseil du trésor. However, CARRA continued to administer the basic life insurance plan.

2003 - CARRA becomes a government agency

On March 25, 2003, CARRA renewed its commitment with respect to its performance by amending its statute to become a government agency bound by a performance and accountability agreement in accordance with the Public Administration Act.

2005 - CARRA embarks on an extensive modernization project

In 2005, CARRA embarked on the modernization of its technologies and business processes, and, under the global investment plan, undertook the largest set of projects in its history. The RISE project, one of seven under the plan, is the core of the new solution (the French abbr refers to the renewal and integration of essential systems). It aims to ensure the long-term survival of data and improve the effectiveness of services. The work took more than five years to complete. In 2010, the final implementation of the RISE project represented a major landmark in CARRA's history.

In 2007, CARRA acquires a new administrative structure

Effective 1 June 2007, the Act respecting the Commission administrative des régimes de retraite et d'assurances  amends CARRA's administrative organization to create a board of directors and four committees: an audit committee, a governance and ethics committee, a human resources committee and a client services committee. The Act also specifies certain functions of the board of directors.

In 2008, CARRA finishes digitizing files

In 2008, digitizing files of members and beneficiaries was finished. In total, from 2005 to 2008, 700 000 files were digitized, that is, 35 million pages and 5 million images. In addition, in 2008 a new telephone system was set up to transfer calls by jurisdiction, which makes it easier and faster to direct clients to the person who will be able to provide them with answers.

In 2009, CARRA continues its modernization

In 2009, two implementation steps were carefully taken, that is, the implementation of the annual declaration of employers, in May, and the financial component, in December (for the payment of benefits in January). The same year, Campus CARRA was inaugurated, a place devoted to the acquisition and consolidation of the expertise of our employees.

In 2010, CARRA finishes implementing RISE

In 2010, the final implementation of the RISE project represents a significant phase in CARRA's history. Since it was finally delivered in June, the RISE solution was able to process requests sent by clients.

In 2011, CARRA sends a new member statement

In the fall of 2011, CARRA sent for the first time, to more than 220 000 persons in the health and social services sector, a new member statement. This new financial planning tool, presented in a user-friendly format, provides information on participation data, the estimated amounts of the future pension and benefits of legal heirs.

In 2012, CARRA revamps its Retirement Planning Information Session

In 2012, the Retirement Planning Information Session is revamped. It has a logo and a slogan entitled Planning for your retirement, which allows it to distinguish itself. During that year, 2195 persons participated in 117 sessions given by trainers of the Retirement Planning Information Session.

July 1965

The Régie des rentes du Québec was created.

1 January 1966

After two years of discussions with the federal government, the Québec Pension Plan begins operations.

Since its creation

The Régie's mandate has been to administer the Supplemental Pension Plans Act. Its first responsibility is to inventory existing private pension plans and, after ensuring that they meet legal requirements, register them. More than 4 000 plans are registered in 1966 and 1967.

On 30 January 1967, the first pension cheque is presented to Mr. Rogers-H. Taschereau, a Québec City resident.

1 April 1971

The Régie is entrusted with the mandate of administering the Act respecting family allowances. In 1974, more than 900 000 families receive cheques from the Régie for a total value of more than 90 million $.

1973

The Régie is administered by a board of directors.

From 1979 to 2016

In accordance with the Act respecting the Québec Pension Plan, the Régie signs social security agreements with several countries so that a person who has worked in another country can receive retirement, disability or survivors' benefits, providing he or she is entitled to them.

May 1982

The Régie begins offering direct deposit of benefits. It is among the first government agencies in Canada to offer the service to such a vast and varied clientele.

1984

In order to improve accessibility to services, the Régie creates an information division. A new team of information clerks is trained to answer the questions of contributors and beneficiaries by phone. Now, information clerks answer some 1,2 million calls every year.

1988

The Régie undertakes its first quality approach with the "SA.CLI.Q" program, Satisfaction des clients par la qualité, with the theme "Quality the first time at lower costs."

July 15, 1990

The Régie marks its 25 years serving Québec's population. The document Preparing the Future: History of the Régie des rentes du Québec (French only) highlights some key events of its history.

8 April 1997

The Conseil du trésor officially designates the Régie as an autonomous services unit.

April 2001

After coming under the provisions of the Public Administration Act, the Régie is designated as a government agency. Concretely, this results in the publication of a Service Statement, a Strategic Plan and the application of an accountability and performance agreement reached between the Régie's President and General Manager and the minister responsible. The agreement includes a management agreement between the minister and the Conseil du trésor.

September 2001

The Régie is awarded the Québec Quality Award in the public sector category. The prize recognizes the Régie's ongoing efforts to enhance its management and the quality of its client service.

June 2002

The Régie's completely overhauled Internet site comes online, with a new look and new content all designed to improve services and better inform visitors.

October 2003

The Régie des rentes du Québec publishes Liaison RRQ newsletter online. It is possible to sign up for the newsletter or consult it on the Régie's website. The newsletter gives information on the Régie's programs and services and provides practical advice on making the best decisions in each of life's important stages.

November 2003

The Régie introduces its first online services. In the spotlight: CompuPension, a brand new tool to simulate retirement income. The tool helps individuals plan financially for retirement using personal information in their files at the Régie. It uses secure electronic methods.

1 January 2005

The Régie now administers the refundable tax credit for child assistance, which enables all parents with a dependent child under age 18 to receive child assistance payments.

15 July 2005

The Régie celebrates its 40th anniversary. Ms. Michelle Courchesne, the Minister responsible for the Régie prepares a message of gratitude for the occasion. The Régie also publishes a booklet.

1 January 2007

The Régie now manages child assistance eligibility autonomously. Parents no longer need to contact the Canada Revenue Agency and can instead deal directly with the Régie.

June 2008

The National Assembly unanimously passes the Act to amend the Supplemental Pension Plans Act, the Act respecting the Québec Pension Plan and other legislative provisions (commonly known as Bill 68). In doing so, the Québec government takes innovative steps to encourage workers age 55 or older to continue working, if they wish to.

January 2009

The National Assembly passes Bill 1, which amends the Supplemental Pension Plans Act. The bill provides for measures to alleviate the effects of the financial crisis on pension plans. As a result, the Gouvernement du Québec thus has the legal leeway it needs to apply special standards to defined benefit pension plans with solvency deficiencies.

August 2009

The Gouvernement du Québec launches public consultations during the parliamentary committee's hearings, allowing the general public to comment on the proposed solutions for adapting the Québec Pension Plan to Québec's new realities.

November 2010

The Régie des rentes du Québec launches My Account, which allows beneficiaries to consult or update their file and access all the Régie's online services in one place.

December 2010

The Québec National Assembly passes Bill 129, the Act to amend various provisions respecting supplemental pension plans, particularly concerning payment options in the event of an employer's insolvency, which serves to secure the pensions of retirees whose employer is insolvent.

17 March 2011

In his Québec Budget Speech, the Minister of Finance announces certain measures aimed at changing the Québec Pension Plan. First and foremost, these changes will improve the Plan's funding and encourage experienced workers to continue working.

October 2011

The Régie becomes the first public agency in Québec to be in Aon Hewitt's top 50 Best Employers in Canada list.

November 2011

The National Assembly passes Bill 42, the Act to amend the Supplemental Pension Plans Act in order to extend certain measures to reduce the effects of the 2008 financial crisis on plans covered by the Act. The Act extends until 31 December 2013 two measures that secure the pensions of retirees and of the members of certain plans.

December 2011

The Québec National Assembly passed Bill no. 39, the Act to amend the Act respecting the Québec Pension Plan and other legislative provisions, which mainly affects pensions and benefits payable under the Act. These changes are being phased in over the course of 2012, 2013 and 2014.

2013

The report by the committee of experts on the future of the Québec retirement system, entitled Innovating for a Sustainable Retirement System, is made public. The Gouvernement du Québec holds special consultations in a parliamentary committee. The report gives an in-depth study whose objective is to reinforce the financial security of all Québec workers.

3 December 2013

The Voluntary Retirement Savings Plans Act is passed by the National Assembly. The new retirement plan provides workers, mainly the self-employed or the employees of small or medium-sized businesses, with access to a retirement savings plan. The Act comes into force on 1 July 2014.

28 December 2013

Ms. Agnès Maltais, Minister of Employment and Social Solidarity and Minister responsible for the Régie des rentes du Québec, cancels the performance and accountability agreement with the Régie des rentes du Québec.

4 December 2014

The Act to foster the financial health and sustainability of municipal defined benefit pension plans  is passed by the National Assembly. It provides for the restructuring of municipal defined benefit plans to foster their financial health and sustainability. The Act comes into force on 5 December 2014.

15 July 2015

The Régie is celebrating its 50th year of service to Québeckers. A short animated presentation (French only)  highlights some key events in the Régie's history.