The federal government is going to give veteran reservists access to the same benefits that full-time members of the Canadian Forces get to cover injuries from their military service.
Veterans Affairs Minister Erin O'Toole made the announcement in Halifax Friday.
"Today is about respect," said O'Toole, adding that more than 25 per cent of the Canada's mission to Afghanistan was made up of reservists.
"They are critical to Canada's own defence and critical to Canada's interests abroad, and they bear the same price."
Starting next month, veteran reservists will be eligible for earnings-loss benefits on the same basis as full-time veterans of the Forces.
The new approach includes part-time reserve force veterans who are enrolled in the vocational rehabilitation program, including those who are getting benefits from the Defence Department's service income insurance plan, O'Toole said.
It also extends to survivors of reservists who died as a result of their military service.
The change means the minimum earnings-loss benefit part-time reservists are eligible for amounts to more than $42,000 a year. Many will make more based on the rank they held, O'Toole said.
Currently, part-time reserve force veterans are eligible for monthly benefits totalling $24,300 annually.
According to Veterans Affairs Canada, the earning loss benefit is a "taxable, monthly benefit that insures your total income will be at least 75 per cent of your gross, pre-release military salary."
The change fills a gap identified by the House of Commons veterans committee in a report last June.
O'Toole says reservists already enrolled in rehabilitation will see the benefits as well. Survivors of part-time reservists will also benefit, he says, "No one will be left out."
"If they are injured in their service to Canada, Canada will be there for them," he added.
"A veteran, is a veteran, is a veteran," says Veterans Ombudsman Guy Parent.
The unequal treatment of reservists has been a sensitive topic for the Conservatives, who have put a politically charged overhaul of the reserve force organization on hold.
National Defence was supposed to have delivered a new structure for the part-time, volunteer force by this spring's budget, but it likely won't be done until after the election, scheduled for October.
Canada sent 27,000 reservists to Afghanistan, and 14 of them were killed during the mission, O'Toole said.
"It means that all of Canada's veterans, not just some, deserve the right to be treated with care compassion and respect. And respect means peace of mind for the families, knowing that we're there if there is an injury in service to the country."
Justice Minister Peter MacKay was also at the announcement at the navy base on the Halifax waterfront.
"You are among our finest citizens," says MacKay. "We must honour you back as you have honour us."
CBC's Molly Segal is live blogging from the news conference.
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