26 November 2014 – The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls and Minister of National Defence, announced a new Government of Canada program, which will provide financial support to employers of Canadian Armed Forces reservists who deploy on operations.
Canada’s reservists make an extraordinary commitment and many personal sacrifices to keep Canadians safe. The Compensation for Employers of Reservists Program will provide compensation to employers of reservists who grant their reservist-employees leave to deploy on operational duty. The program, delivered jointly by the Department of National Defence and Employment and Social Development Canada, will fulfill our government’s commitment to ensure employers of Canadian reservists have more support when reservists are called upon to serve Canada through military operations.
The Compensation for Employers of Reservists Program was designed based upon proposals for employer compensation, a review of employer compensation models of Canada’s Allies, in addition to research and consultation with the private sector, and input from Canada Company, which developed a template for funding included in the 2012 Budget.
The program will provide approximately $403 per week for the duration of the absence of their reservist-employee on operations in the form of a grant to be paid to employers at the end of the Reservists deployment period. The program has been developed in a manner that balances fair compensation with fiscal prudence and Department of National Defence is partnering with Employment and Social Development Canada for delivery of the program.
To be eligible, the employer must have an employee who is a reservist serving on a designated Canadian Armed Forces operation (international or domestic) for a minimum period of 30 days up to a maximum of 18 months. This captures the vast majority of international deployments, as well as major planned domestic operations. Employers whose reservists served on designated operations will be eligible; this is normally restricted to members of the Primary Reserve and Canadian Rangers. To be eligible, the reservist must have worked with their employer for a minimum of 30 hours per week, for three consecutive months. Applicants from the private sector, provincial, municipal or territorial governments may apply and be considered eligible but federal government employers are not.
More information here.