THUNDER BAY – The country’s military reservists will be getting bigger pay days, a change that is hoped to help recruit more people to the units.
The federal government on Wednesday announced changes that will bring reservists’ wages in line to match the pay of regular forces.
Under the previous structure, members of reserve units like HMCS Griffon and the O’Kelley Armoury in Thunder Bay were paid 85 per cent of what regular forces made.
MP Patty Hajdu (Lib., Thunder Bay-Superior North) made the announcement at HMCS Griffon, one of Canada’s 24 naval reserve units.
“We know that reservists are providing a valuable service across the country and across the world,” Hajdu said. “We know we want to attract more people to the reserve units across the country. We know this is a way people can develop themselves – develop their skills – but also contribute to the many efforts that the reserve forces contribute to our communities, to our country and to the global community.”
The Griffon currently has a complement of 66 officers and non-commissioned members, a figure that commanding officer Lt. Cmdr. Robert Cooke would like to see doubled.
The increased compensation can help, he said, adding it has been well received by members.
“It shows the commitment of the government to the reserves and the good work the reserves are doing,” Cooke said. “It makes that transition for some people from the regular force revert to the reserves – that’s what I did – and now it closes the gap a little bit.”
According to a government fact sheet, a first-year corporal will make $153 per day under the new system, up from the previous amount of $140.
The new pay structure, which will be retroactive to the beginning of April, will go into effect in August.
