Grants for businesses that employ reservists

If you are a civilian employer of reservists or a self-employed reservist, get financial assistance to offset operational costs you incur when reservists deploy on full-time operational duty, both domestically and abroad.

CERP is a Department of National Defence (DND) grant program for which the Department of Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) provides administrative support. In addition to issuing grants to employers of reservists and self-employed reservists, CERP provides an opportunity to conduct outreach and bring awareness to the business community and educational institutions about the im

portant role, training and special skills reservists bring to the military and their personal careers outside of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).

Provide a one-time financial support to civilian employers of reservists and self-employed reservists, to offset operational costs they incur when reservist employees deploy on full-time operational duty (Chief of Defence Staff directed operation), both domestically and abroad.

Enable reservists to be more fully integrated alongside the Canadian Armed Forces Regular Force.

Enable a better understanding of the role of reservists in the military, their places of employment and in their communities.

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 Rangers^Footnote1.
• The reservist employee must be deployed for a minimum of 30 days on a Chief of Defence Staff directed operation, as confirmed by his/her Reserve Commanding Officer.
• 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 duty (which would include any post-deployment activities that are mandatory and part of the mission).
• 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 duty^Footnote2.
• 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 duty.
• 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.

Give your application the best chance at approval. AKR Consulting has an 99% approval rating across all Canadian funding programs.