Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute 14 civilian employers from across Canada who will be honoured this weekend by the Department of National Defence for their support of the reserve force.
The Canadian Forces Liaison Council Employer Support Awards are presented every two years, and this year's awards ceremony is the fourth that the CFLC has sponsored since 1997.
There are about 30,000 primary reservists in Canada; most work full or part time for civilian employers and some are students. In order to train, attend courses or serve on operational missions, these reservists need the support of their employers. In turn, employers benefit from the work values, leadership training and specific job skills that reservist employees bring back to the civilian workplace.
I want to congratulate Cominco Trail Operations of Trail, British Columbia for being the most supportive employer in Canada. I would also like to salute all those employers who won awards for most supportive employer in their respective provinces or for their support in specific operations. All of these employers were nominated by reservists who proudly serve this great country.