Updated August 2026 · Verified against Employment and Social Development Canada / Service Canada guidelines
✓ First-Timer Friendly Lump Sum
Grant Federal Active

Compensation for Employers of Reservists Program (CERP) — ESDC / Service Canada

Employment and Social Development Canada / Service Canada
Maximum Funding
Lump sum of 40% of the Yearly Maximum Pensionable Earnings,...
No calendar deadline. The clock runs per deployment: the completed Grant Appl...
Visit Official Program →
Difficulty
Moderate
Payment
Lump Sum
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
Friendly ✓
Co-Funding
Varies
Compensation for Employers of Reservists Program (CERP) — ESDC / Service Canada provides up to Lump sum of 40% of the Yearly Maximum Pensionable Earnings, prorated by weeks of active service. At the 2026 YMPE that is roughly $574 per week deployed, to a maximum of 78 weeks (about $44,760). Provides a lump-sum payment to Canadian employers and self-employed reservists to offset costs when a Primary Reserve or Canadian Rangers reservist is deployed on active military activity. No calendar deadline. The clock runs per deployment: the completed Grant Application Package and other required documents must reach ESDC no later than 12 months following the reservist's return from active military activity, and the application cannot be filed until they have returned..

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Eligibility & Details

What this program funds and who can apply

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Program Description

Provides a lump-sum payment to Canadian employers and self-employed reservists to offset costs when a Primary Reserve or Canadian Rangers reservist is deployed on active military activity.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Canadian employer, excluding the federal government, federal agencies, and Crown corporations, or a self-employed reservist.
  • Reservist must be a Primary Reserve or Canadian Rangers member.
  • Deployment must be on a Chief of Defence Staff directed operation or military skills training.
  • Leave of absence for active military activity must be at least 30 days.
  • Reservist must have worked for the employer at least 30 hours per week for 13 consecutive weeks before leave.
  • Application must be submitted no later than 12 months after the reservist returns from active military activity.
  • Military Skills Training is defined by ESDC as qualification courses that progress a CAF Reservist in rank — reservists attending as a candidate OR as an instructor are eligible
Provinces
All Provinces
Industries
All
Business Stage
Startup Growth Established

Quick Assessment

Difficulty
Moderate
Competition
Low
First-Timer
Friendly

Funding Details

Amount
Lump sum of 40% of the Yearly Maximum Pensionable Earnings, prorated by weeks of active service. At the 2026 YMPE that is roughly $574 per week deployed, to a maximum of 78 weeks (about $44,760).
Type
Grant
Level
Federal
Deadline
No calendar deadline. The clock runs per deployment: the completed Grant Application Package and other required documents must reach ESDC no later than 12 months following the reservist's return from active military activity, and the application cannot be filed until they have returned.

Program Scorecard

Competition, effort, and approval at a glance

Competition
Low
Deadline
Ongoing
Approval
Varies
Accessibility
3/5

Moderate — standard application process

Competition
2/5

Below average competition

Difficulty
3/5

Moderate — standard requirements

Processing Time
Budget Trend
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How to Win

Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like

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Insider Tip

There are three ways to submit: the online application form, e-mail to [email protected], or mail — pick whichever you can complete accurately, not just the fastest.

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Rejection Pitfalls 6

  • The leave of absence was shorter than 30 days
+5 more pitfalls
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Success Profile

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Evaluation Criteria

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How CERP judges your application

What the reviewer scores, what gets applications rejected, and what to write.

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Written answers3no length limits stated
Judged on9 criteria
Can reject you12 rules
Decision35 days
To attach5 documents

Distilled from 6+ source documents on canada.ca, condensed into one brief. Sources as of 2026-09-04.

6 of the sources

What CERP favours

Read required documents before filling the package◦

“It is recommended that you consult this section while filling in the Grant Application Package, as it provides important details on the information and supporting documentation ESDC requires to assess your application.”

2 more, in their words

The form2 prompts shown

Part 1 – Organization3 sections
  1. 1Part 1 – Organization · A. Organization identificationshort answer
  2. 2Part 1 – Organization · B. Organization contactshort answer
  3. 3Part 1 – Organization · C. Additional organization information (amounts owed to the Government of Canada)yes/no + written

    34. Does your organization owe any amounts to the Government of Canada? *

Part 2 – Reservist and activity4 sections
  1. 4Part 2 – Reservist, military activity and employment information · A. Reservist informationshort answer
  2. 5Part 2 · B. Mission or military skills trainingshort answer
  3. 6Part 2 · C. Employment information (the 13-week / 30-hour test)short answer
  4. 7Part 2 · D. Checklist and supporting documentscheckboxes
Part 3 – Quebec annex1 section
  1. 8Part 3 – Annex (Quebec applicants only): Act respecting the Ministère du Conseil exécutif (M-30)yes/no + written

    PART 3 – ANNEX (For Quebec applicants only)

Declarations1 section
  1. 9Section D2 – Declarations and Signaturescheckboxes
Online form only3 sections
  1. 102E – Additional Information (online form only)selection + written
  2. 11Supporting Documents p.7A / p.7B (online form only)list
  3. 12Application summary and submission (online form only)checkbox

CERP states no length limits for these answers.

9 more prompts, in the funder’s words

Judged against3 questions · 9 criteria

  1. 1

    Are the employer and the reservist eligible?

    Show them Show a valid CRA business number and an eligible Canadian employer type, with the reservist's service number and Primary Reserve or Canadian Rangers membership.◦

    In the funder’s words · 4
    • 3. The Grant Application Package was submitted by an eligible recipient
    • 4. The employee or the self-employed reservist is a member of the Primary Reserve or Canadian Rangers
    • The applicant is an eligible Canadian employer (for example, not a federal government, federal agency or Crown Corporation)
    • The applicant has provided a valid business or registration number from CRA (for example, the business is real and active)
  2. 2

    Do the dates and hours pass the tests?

    What to show, and the funder’s 3 criteria behind it in Premium

  3. 3

    Was the package complete, signed and on time?

    What to show, and the funder’s 2 criteria behind it in Premium

10 questions the reviewer answers about you, in Premium.

Where applicants failin CERP’s words

“All required documents must be attached, otherwise your application will be considered incomplete.”
“We will not process incomplete applications, including those missing any of the required supporting documents.”

5 more, in the funder’s words

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Do you pass?12 checks

Each one can rule you out. Tick the ones you meet.

You

  • Apply within 12 months of return

    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)

Your organisation

  • Provincial or territorial government employer

    Provincial and territorial Governments

The project

  • 30-day mission or skills training

    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

9 more checks

Documents to attach5

Ticks are kept on this device.

The money

Payment formula40% of YMPE

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)

Example: 10 weeks$5,739 for 10 weeks

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

Maximum claim78 weeks (18 months)

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.

Lump-sum paymentOne lump sum, Canada-calculated

Payments made to eligible employers will be made in a lump-sum payment based on the Grant Amount Calculated by Canada in Section D3 – Canada Approval.

Costs before approvalApply in one package after reservist returns

You are required to submit your application in one complete package once the reservist has returned from active military activity (including any pre-deployment training deployment and post-deployment activities that are mandatory, including leave).

What it pays for · 1
  • CERP provides a one-time financial support to civilian employers of reservists and self-employed reservists, to offset operational costs they incur when reservist employees take a leave of absence from their civilian employment in order to deploy on domestic or expeditionary operations or participate in military skills training.

From application to money

  1. Submit one packageOne complete package after reservist returns
  2. Receipt in 24 hourswithin 24 hoursEmail receipt within 24 hours
  3. DND confirms datesCanada confirms dates with DND
  4. Status in 35 dayswithin 35 daysStatus notification within 35 days
  5. Signed by CanadaBinding once signed by Canada
  6. Lump-sum grant paidCanada pays calculated lump-sum grant
In the funder’s words · 6
Submit one package
Submit the completed Grant Application Package with every supporting document in one submission once the reservist has returned.
Receipt in 24 hours
You will receive an email receipt within 24 hours of submitting your application.
DND confirms dates
Canada confirms the claimed activity dates with the Department of National Defence before calculating the grant.
Status in 35 days
All applicants will be notified of the status of their application within 35 days.
Signed by Canada
The package becomes a legally binding agreement once approved and signed by a representative of Canada.
Lump-sum grant paid
Canada pays the grant amount it calculated in Section D3.

Quoted lines are word for word from the source documents; lines marked ◦ are our reading of them.

What's in this Playbook

Everything you need to win CERP

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Application Playbook

Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses

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Application Steps

1 Wait until the reservist is back You are required to submit your application in one complete package once the reservist has returned from active military activity, including any mandatory pre-deployment training, deployment and post-deployment activities.

Required Documents 4

✓ Completed Grant Application Package (Sections A through D)
✓ A Canada Revenue Agency document showing your business or registration number, such as tax related documents or CRA correspondence

Intake Periods

Deadline Notes

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Funding Stack Strategy

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Clawback Risk

Low Risk
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How CERP Compares

Side-by-side with similar programs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about CERP

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How is the payment calculated?
It is a lump sum equal to 40% of the Yearly Maximum Pensionable Earnings, divided by 52 weeks and multiplied by the number of weeks the reservist was on active military activity, to a maximum of 78 weeks.
How long must the deployment be?
The leave of absence for active military activity must have a minimum duration of 30 days.
How long must the reservist have worked for me?
The reservist must have worked for your organization an average of 30 hours or more per week for 13 consecutive weeks, that is three consecutive months, before the leave of absence.
When do I apply?
After the reservist returns. You submit one complete package once they are back, including any mandatory pre-deployment and post-deployment activities, and it must reach ESDC no later than 12 months following the return.
What documents do I have to attach?
A CRA document showing your business number and copies of the reservist's pay stubs for the 13 consecutive weeks before the leave. A self-employed reservist must instead provide their most recent financial statements signed by a certified accountant. All required documents must be attached, otherwise the application is considered incomplete.
Does it matter that my business owes money to the federal government?
No. The form asks whether your organization owes any amounts to the Government of Canada, and states that answering yes will not invalidate your application, though you must give details of the debt and any repayment arrangements.
Does training count, or only deployment?
Both. Military Skills Training is defined by ESDC as qualification courses that progress a CAF Reservist in rank, and reservists attending as a candidate or as an instructor are both eligible — not just an operational deployment.

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