Canada鈥檚 Minister of National Defence, Harjit Sajjan, announced the launch of the full time summer employment program for reservists Tuesday, in 91大黄鸭. The program, explained Sajjan, will allow new and recently enrolled reservists the opportunity to work full time from May 1 to Aug. 31 each summer.
鈥淭his will be done for the first four years of their service,鈥� said Sajjan.
Canada is 鈥渋nvesting in its citizen soldiers鈥� assigning new roles, enhancing existing roles, and ensuring they are properly trained and equipped, he said, adding what it means is that communities will have more support.
鈥淯nits like the Dragoons can directly impact communities in times of need. We talk about filling sandbags (during times of flooding), but it鈥檚 not just filling sandbags,鈥� he told the crowd of reservists. 鈥淵ou are saving people鈥檚 homes through flooding. 鈥� and we witnessed that last summer.鈥�
The decision to fund full time employment could significantly bolster enrollment at the B.C. Dragoons, said Lt.-Col. Mike McGinty, the Dragoons鈥� commanding officer. Previously employment could be offered as a week here, or two to three weeks there.
鈥淭hat wasn鈥檛 enough to commit,鈥� said McGinty. 鈥淣ow we are offering a clear start to end period where we can recruit them.鈥�
McGinty said he has 100 reservists now and has room to enlist another 60. The community benefit is that once there are more people working for the Dragoons, when there鈥檚 a time of need there will be more available resources to deploy in times of need鈥攕uch as fires and floods.
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