Funding: The Compensation for Employers of Reservists Program – Eligibility information
2. Eligibility information
Eligibility is determined by the following criteria:
- you must be a Canadian employer (except for the federal government, federal agencies and Crown Corporations) of a reservist employee who is a member of the Primary Reserve or Canadian RangersFootnote 1
- the reservist employee is being deployed on a Chief of Defence Staff directed operation or participating in military skills training for a minimum of 30 days, as confirmed by the Canadian Armed Forces
- your completed Grant Application Package and other required documents must be provided to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) no later than 12 months following the reservist's return from active military activity (which would include any post-deployment activities that are mandatory, including leave)
- you must be able to provide the required documentation demonstrating that the deploying reservist employee has worked for you for a minimum of 30 hours per week, for 13 consecutive weeks (three consecutive months) prior to the leave of absence for active military activity2
- self-employed reservists must provide required documentation demonstrating that the business is real, active, and represents the main source of employment/income for a minimum of 13 consecutive weeks (three consecutive months) prior to the leave of absence for active military activity
- employers whose reservist employees, and self-employed reservists who are deployed for more than 18 months will be eligible for compensation up to the program maximum of 18 months
Note: Military Skills Training are defined as qualification courses that progress a CAF Reservist in rank. CAF Reservists attending these courses as a candidate, or as an instructor, would be deemed eligible.
Eligible grant recipients
The following can be eligible under Compensation for Employers of Reservists Program (CERP):
- employers of reservists in:
- Private Sector organizations
- Municipal Governments
- Provincial and territorial Governments
- self-employed reservists who meet the definition of a reservistFootnote 1
Ineligible applicants
Grants will not be issued to:
- employers of reservists and/or self-employed reservists who do not meet the definition of Primary Reserve and Canadian RangersFootnote 1
- employers of reservists who do not meet the minimum work threshold, as set out in the Eligibility Criteria above
- employers of reservists who are federal government and/or agencies and Crown Corporation employers
Grant payment calculation and duration
- Eligible Canadian employers of reservists and self-employed reservists will receive a lump sum payment based on the number of weeks of active military activity and equivalent to 40% of the Yearly Maximum Pensionable Earnings (YMPE)
- The amount payable is 40% of the YMPE divided by 52 weeks, multiplied by the number of weeks deployed
- For example, an employer whose employee deployed for 10 weeks in 2026 would qualify for a grant of $5,739 ($74,600/52 weeks X 10 weeks x 40%) or approximately $574 per week
- The maximum number of weeks that can be claimed is 78 weeks (18 months) of active military activity including any pre-deployment training, deployment and post-deployment activities that are mandatory and part of the mission or the training