Windsor

Ontario introducing new legislation to ensure military reservists have 'day job' protection

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Day job protection for reservists The Minister of Labour stopped in Windsor to announce an expansion of job-protected leave for military reservists.

The Ontario government is introducing new legislation that, if passed, would ensure military reservists who are training or deployed can return to their civilian livelihoods.Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development Monte McNaughton made the announcement in Windsor on Friday.

He said the Working for Workers Act would help ease the shortage of reservists the Canadian Armed Forces is facing and recognize the tremendous sacrifice the workers make.

“Ontario’s brave men and women in the Canadian Armed Forces put their lives on hold to protect our freedom. If reservists are training or deployed their jobs should be waiting for them when they return home,” said McNaughton.

McNaughton said it is “unacceptable” to ask Canadians to choose between their career and serving their country.

As a result of the pandemic, he said the Canadian Armed Forces is experiencing shortages of reservists and troops, putting a heavier burden on current reservists and military operations.

If passed, this change would expand job-protected leave for reservists who are deployed or need to participate in military training, which often requires time off their day job. It would also make the leave available after three months of continuous employment – down from the current requirement of six months.

"This Bill will provide much needed stability and support to those reservists who wish to deepen their experience within the military, without putting their civilian livelihoods at risk,” said Nick Booth, CEO of the True Patriot Love Foundation, Canada’s foundation for the military community.

The legislation is being applauded by retired Lt.-Col. Morris Brause, who says the war currently being waged by Russia in Ukraine is an eye-opener that could have world-wide repercussions.

“There is a real danger that if we’re not cautious, we’re going to go into World War 3,” Brause said. “If a decision is made by our government to get involved, then we will obviously answer the call.”

Jeff Musson, who head up the organization ‘Coding for Veterans’ says these events in Ukraine have really started to focus everyone’s attention on the importance of having reservists at the ready.

“Because we don’t know what the future holds, let’s start preparing for it today,” Musson says. “Now you start reducing those barriers and it starts opening up a larger pool of talent in which to retrain.”

Coding for Veterans is a program where armed forces veterans and reservists can get a free education in coding for a career in the tech industry.

Musson says Friday’s announcement means his students could also have an immediate impact in military operations while preserving their job security.

“It’s no longer just warfare,” he said. “There’s going to be a time that comes in the very near future where reservists are going to be called up to protect on the cyber side.”

These measures are part of Ontario’s ambitious plan to attract the best workers from across Canada – and around the world – by making the province the best place to live, work and raise a family. This legislation also includes foundational rights for digital platform workers, a requirement for employers to disclose their electronic monitoring of employees and several red tape reductions to encourage out-of-province workers to help fill the generational labour shortage.

As of March 2020, the Canadian Forces is comprised of approximately 27,000 Reserve Force members. Of these members, approximately 11,000 are living in Ontario.