All of this is a matter of opinion. “Protection from yourself” = nanny state making decisions for you. Like allowing transfer to just 3 Canadian providers, all of them offering poor choice of expensive options; hardly in anyones interest except for British financial companies which get to keep your money for longer.

There are advantages and disadvantages but I find that in Canada you can invest at lower overall cost, which is a major advantage. You can also invest with multiple brokerages within the same country if you are concerned about that type of risk although I would question the wisdom. Holding money in multiple countries makes sense if you are concerned that one of them will collapse.

That is a viewpoint I am very sympathetic to, however when a large majoprity of people don't make adequate provision for their retirement, and the "nanny state" (IOW everyone else, including those who did plan appropriately for their retirement) is going to have to bail them out in retirement with income support, it is arguably a reasonable restriction, to ensure that those who have saved something cannot draw it back out on a whim ..... Perhaps more importantly, under UK law, under most circumstances, the money is protected from creditors if you become bankrupt.

The point about people not saving for retirement and then costing the taxpayer is true but that’s not why UK restricts transfers of pensions abroad. Someone living in Canada is very unlikely to end up on UK income support.

RRSPs are also protected from creditors (under most circumstances).

I didn't say it was. I had moved on to addressing the "nanny state" comment, which is why I cut down the post I quoted to only the bit about "nanny state" and the words either side for context.

The primary reason for restriction on moving UK pension funds overseas is to ensure that the owner can't access the funds prematurely, i.e. before they reach the age of 55.

I think the word you're looking for is can't. You know, minimum wage, zero hours contracts, inconvenient things like that. Of course they can always get a better job. Perhaps apply for a position as CEO or something. Or become an influencer. Make friends with a health secretary and get a multi-million pound contract for something you know nothing about.

The voices of privilege.

Pension stays in 🇬🇧 and you access the money anytime after 55. Money stays in drawdown until 100% used. Rules for RRSP do not apply to overseas pensions. Make sure you inform HMRC that you live abroad, so that tax is only deducted in Canada. CRA will need to be informed of funds drawn down each year on the annual tax return.