The recent enactment of Bill 101 (An Act to improve certain labour laws) introduces significant and long-awaited changes to the Labour Standards Act concerning members of the Canadian Armed Forces Reserves. With these changes, Québec aligns itself with most Canadian provinces regarding labour standards for reservists.
The amendments clarify rules on return to work, reinstatement in a comparable position, and authorized leave periods. Reservists are entitled to return to their usual position or to a similar position with the same salary and benefits as before their leave. They must inform their employer of their anticipated return in writing and provide adequate notice.
As enacted on October 28, 2025, the bill “revises certain rules applicable to the absences of an employee who is a reservist, notably to reduce the required period of continuous service allowing them to take part in a Canadian Armed Forces operation abroad, and to broaden the other reasons for which they may be absent.”
For more information about these important changes, visit the National Assembly website or contact Me Marie-Claude Jarry, partner at Dunton Rainville, Honorary Colonel of the Royal Canadian Hussars (Montréal), and Québec Chair of the Canadian Forces Liaison Council.
Canadian Armed Forces Employer Support Programs
The primary role of the Reserve Force is to augment, support, and assist the Regular Force of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). Reservists play three key roles within the CAF:
- They are operational, trained, and ready to answer the call of duty.
- They are present within the CAF and maintain strong ties with the community.
- They demonstrate civic duty, leadership, and commitment to the country.
To fulfill these responsibilities, reservists need time to undergo training or participate in operations. Several programs and services are available to employers to facilitate their reservist employees’ participation in essential training or even deployment in support of operations.
Discover these tools, programs, and services.