Military budget squeeze limits paid Remembrance Day participation in Ontario

[MilEME09]

This does not sound accurate. Unfortunately, I am not close to a DWAN terminal to check, but I am nearly certain that there is a process to invoke insurance for Class A Reservists to make up the difference between their day job and Class A, if injured on duty. Can I get back to you Monday?

If they were on work up training then they were on Class C service. Reserve force compensation basicslly puts a person on a contract until they can go back to their civilian employment. It doesnt make up the difference if the civi job pays more.

Ive been on it before, broke my leg on class B during my DP1. RFC had me on a continuous Class B until I could go back to work.

 

[Harris]

According to AI (Which I reviewed briefly and seems to be correct), there are no CAF options to account for your civilian pay:

A Class C Reserve Force soldier in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) who is injured on duty and holds a higher-paying civilian job has three primary income-replacement options, along with several long-term disability and transition benefits. Because you can only receive one income-replacement benefit per condition, choosing the right path depends on how your civilian salary compares to your military pay and your province's workers' compensation limits. [1, 2, 3, 4]

1. Immediate Wage-Loss Options (While Recovering)

• • Government Employees Compensation Act (GECA): This is often the best option if your civilian income is higher than your military pay, as it bases compensation on your civilian earnings rather than your military rank. Claims are adjudicated through your provincial workers' compensation board, meaning payout rates and maximum insurable earnings caps vary significantly by province. [1, 2]
  • Extension of Class C Service: Under Compensation and Benefits Instructions (CBI) 210.72, if your injury occurs during active Class C Special Duty Service, your Class C contract can be extended for up to 24 months. This keeps you at your full-time Regular Force equivalent military pay rate and preserves your full military medical, dental, and pension benefits during recovery. [1, 2]
  • Reserve Force Compensation (RFC): Also governed by CBI 210.72, RFC pays a rate equivalent to your full-time military salary at the time of injury once your Class C contract ends. However, RFC does not account for lost civilian wages and does not include ongoing pension or employment insurance contributions. [1, 2]

2. Long-Term & Post-Release Options
If your injury prevents you from returning to military duty or your civilian career long-term, additional programs apply:

• • SISIP Long-Term Disability (LTD): Class C members are covered under the Service Income Security Insurance Plan (SISIP), which provides 75% of your monthly military salary at the time of the injury, offset by other income sources. [1]
  • VAC Income Replacement Benefit (IRB): If you are medically released and participate in rehabilitation, Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) provides 90% of your gross pre-release military salary. Like SISIP, the VAC IRB is calculated strictly on your military salary and does not factor in higher civilian earnings. [1, 2]
  • VAC Pain and Suffering / Critical Injury Benefits: Regardless of your income, you may apply for tax-free lump-sum or monthly awards through Veterans Affairs Canada for permanent service-related disabilities or severe traumatic injuries. [1, 2]

Key Takeaways for Higher Civilian Earners

• • GECA vs. Military Pay: You should compare your province's workers' compensation wage cap under GECA against your Class C military pay. If your province has a high earnings cap, GECA will replace more of your civilian income than a Class C extension or RFC.
  • Critical Administration: Ensure a CF 98 (Report of Injury, Disease or Illness) is completed immediately, and request an interview with your local CAF Transition Centre to run exact calculations before locking into a single compensation stream. [1, 2, 3]