Raminder was hired in January 1997.

The “eligible portion” of a retiring allowance (the part that may be transferred directly to an RRSP/RPP on a tax-deferred basis without using regular RRSP room) is based on years of service before 1996 (and potentially an additional amount for certain pre-1989 years). CRA explains that the eligible part is: $2,000 for each year or part-year of service before 1996, plus an additional $1,500 for each year or part-year of service before 1989 only if no employer-funded pension/DPSP benefits for those years were vested (or previously paid out).

Raminder was hired in January 1997, so he has zero years (or part-years) of service before 1996, and therefore he has no base eligible amount under the $2,000-per-year rule. Because he also has no pre-1989 service, the additional $1,500-per-year rule does not apply either.

So, the eligible portion is $0, meaning none of the $10,000 retiring allowance is eligible (option D).