Thank you, Mr. Chisu, for that question.
No reservist should have to choose between serving their country and keeping their full-time job. That's the bottom line. As you know, the reservists are a huge part of the support for Canada's military efforts, and we've known for decades that they are an integral, essential part of our ability to maintain the capability of our armed forces. Our reserves certainly have my support and I know your support as well.
We want to make it possible to assist businesses and institutions that have reservists deployed on full-time operational duty either domestically or abroad. We want to be able to assist them. So the package I've announced will go to those employers to help offset the costs of one or more of these reservists who are employed by them. Because we know employers are for the most part very supportive of the reservists they employ, and they too, of course, support this country and what this country stands for and the operations that we have undertaken as a nation. This is the government's way of assisting, easing that burden a bit, and it helps everybody.
The reservists, I'm sure, appreciate the support. The businesses themselves appreciate it, and indeed, all Canadians support what our reservists contribute. I know Colonel Opitz and his association with a reserve unit down near my neck of the woods. He would be an expert to be able to tell you just how important it is to have reservists and to support them in their efforts. I don't have to tell you how valuable they were in the operation in Afghanistan. I have met many reservists who tell me that they were deployed and how proud they were to serve their country. It's part of that greater story of the support of our military, and again, I was very pleased to be able to make that announcement.