Federal Government To Protect Jobs Of Reservists

The federal government has announced it will be introducing a bill to protect the jobs of reservists while they are serving on active duty for the Canadian armed forces.  Labour Minister Jean Pierre Blackburn stated that federal officials are working out the details, but expects the bill to be introduced in the House of Commons early in 2008.

For the 30,000 or so Canadian reservists, the bill would serve, during absences from work while they are on active duty, to ensure their job is preserved until their return.  It would also protect the pensions and benefits of those reservists and their dependents.

The bill would apply only to federal government employees as well as those in the private sector whose employer falls under federal jurisdiction.