For Immediate Release
May 16, 2007

  

Job protection for military reservist peacekeepers

Cambridge – Cambridge MPP Gerry Martiniuk introduced a private member’s bill today that would protect the civilian jobs of Canadian Forces reservists who volunteer for active peacekeeping duty.

Called the Military Service Leave Bill, it would require employers to secure the civilian jobs of reserve force members for a period of up to two years. Upon their return to work, reservists would receive the same salary, benefits and seniority status they would have attained had they remained in their civilian employment.

“I believe that reservists’ contributions to world peace should be recognized by our province,” Martiniuk said.

In Canada, similar legislation exists only in Nova Scotia.

Most of the Canadian Forces’ 25,000 reservists either work full-time in civilian jobs or are full-time students.

Meanwhile, a petition calling on the McGuinty government to provide job protection to members of Canada’s reserve force is available at Martiniuk’s office at 410 Hespeler Rd. and on Martiniuk’s website at www.gerrygetsresults.com.
   

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For more information, please call Carol-Ann Nugent at 519-623-5852 or 519-502-2409.