OTTAWA - The federal government is in the process of sending information on its planned early retirement program to almost 70,000 employees as it works to reduce the size of the public service.

Mohammad Kamal, director of communications for the Office of the President of the Treasury Board, says letters are being sent to roughly 68,000 public servants who may be eligible for the program.

Ottawa is looking to cut the number of public service jobs by about 40,000 from a peak of 368,000 positions in 2023.

The government is trying to boost the rate of attrition and avoid cuts to younger workers by offering a voluntary program allowing workers to retire earlier without incurring a pension penalty.

The budget says the government intends to implement the one-year program as soon as January, t

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