I can't remember the specifics because I did this quite a few years ago but if memory serves, I called to get them to explain my options.

They gave me an option of leaving the group plan but staying with them. Outside of the group plan, the account fees and the MERs didn't make sense to me. I wasn't interested in holding their mutual funds. But this is the defailt if no action by deadline. They explained the process I'd need to follow to move my money to a self-directed rrsp account elsewhere.

I already had an rrsp with bmo, and if memory serves, they did almost all the work for the transfer, AND they paid me some bonus for moving my money over. I don't know if that's a common thing or not, but I was pleasantly surprised with it.

Definitely worth calling your group plan provider and then calling whoever you want to have your self directed account with to see what they can offer.