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...
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..
Eligibility check
Can you win this grant?
Get your instant eligibility verdict plus a head start on the application. Free, no account needed.
Takes about 20 seconds. We use this program’s real eligibility rules.
Want your full match picture across 650+ programs? Take the 2-minute quiz →
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Free
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.
Provinces
Industries
Business Stage
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
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
Premium
See your real odds on this program — and exactly what it takes to win it.
What's in this Playbook
Everything you need to win CERP
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 6 rejection pitfalls reviewers flag — so you catch them first
- 5-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 7-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
$19 covers this one program. $39/mo covers every program, plus the workspace that walks you through each application.
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Premium
Insider TipThe pay stubs are what sink applications.
Premium
See what trips up most applicants for this program — and how to avoid it.
Rejection Pitfalls 6
- The leave of absence was shorter than 30 days
+5 more pitfalls
Premium
See the most common reasons applications get rejected — before you submit yours.
Success Profile
Premium
See what successful applicants for this program actually look like.
Evaluation Criteria
Premium
See exactly what reviewers score on — so you know where to focus.
Don’t lose this one to a preventable rejection
6 reasons applications get rejected, what winners look like, and exactly what reviewers score on
Paid grant writers quote $2,000–$5,000 per program. Premium covers all 650+ for $39/mo.
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Premium
7 steps
5 docs
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 5
✓ 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
Premium
Get the step-by-step application guide — documents, timeline, and what to prepare.
Applying for CERP? Our Grant Proposal Template ($19) mirrors the section structure Canadian reviewers actually score on. Or get all 4 templates in the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27) →
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Premium
Stacking partner data not yet available.
Combined Funding Potential
See your total funding potential
Clawback Risk
Low Risk
Premium
See which programs combine with this one — and how much more you could get.
How CERP Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
Free
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compensation for Employers of Reservi... | Lump sum of 40% of the Yearly... | Moderate | Lump Sum | No calendar deadline.... |
| Industrial Research Assistance Progra... | Up to $1M | Moderate | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
| CanExport SMEs | Up to $50,000 | Moderate | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Applications accepted... |
| Youth Employment and Skills Program | Up to $25K | Hard | Advance Payment | Between intakes —... |
| Innovative Solutions Canada | up to $150,000 | Hard | Milestone-Based | Challenge-specific — new... |
Related Programs
Other programs you might be eligible for
Free
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about CERP
Free
Browse More Funding
Full Playbook: CERP
7 steps · 5 docs · reviewer insights