Canada's varying approach to compensating disabled Reserve Force members and Veterans since 1866

Earnings replacement for disabled Canadian servicemembers and Veterans depends primarily on their enrolment component. By reviewing legislation and policies since 1866, this article examines differences in compensation for Regular, Reserve, and Special Force members and Veterans. Since the Regular Force was created in 1883, its members have automatically received unreduced pay and benefits while recovering from injuries. Similarly, disabled Regular Force Veterans received compensation based on lost military salary. Before the First World War, lost civilian earnings and family situations were assessed to determine financial compensation for disabled reservists and Veterans. Subsequently, the government has accepted progressively less liability for disabled reservists, who currently must apply for an allowance based on military salary with no entitlement to benefits. Although the Canadian Forces announced that reservists may be eligible for provincial workers compensation benefits, this is based on a tenuous interpretation of legislation and not supported by policies. For Reserve Veterans, the 1919 Pension Act provided pensions based on rank, severity of injury, and family status. The 1971 change to a common pain-and-suffering benefit left disabled reservists without post-release earnings loss compensation. Changes to legislation between 2005 and 2015 and the 2019 Veterans Well-being Act have improved financial compensation for Reserve Veterans.