Staff to report back to Council on policy change proposals and financial implications associated with the City’s Military Leave Policy that would support reservist leave top…

2:45:33is something that was pulled from the information items

2:45:36by Councillor Richardson.

2:45:37And I wanna thank Councillor Richardson

2:45:39for bringing this forward as the daughter

2:45:41of an active duty servicemen in the armed forces

2:45:44and then later a reservist.

2:45:45I think this is a great discussion to have.

2:45:48So the floor is yours, Councillor Richardson.

2:45:52Thank you.

2:45:52I'm happy to speak to this and through you, Chair Caron,

2:45:54I'm incredibly proud to share that the city of Guelph

2:45:57has been approved to join the glowing hearts

2:46:00reservist employee recognition program.

2:46:03It's a federal government initiative

2:46:05and it's delivered in partnership

2:46:07with the Canadian forces liaison

2:46:08and recognizes organizations that support

2:46:12Canadian Armed Forces reservists through flexible policies

2:46:15such as military leave and accommodations

2:46:17for training and development.

2:46:20The glowing hearts program recognizes employers

2:46:22that support Canadian Armed Forces

2:46:23and military leave with policies

2:46:25and provide reserve force employees with flexibility

2:46:28to continue serving their community in Canada.

2:46:31And I think I do have another motion to add.

2:46:35Dylan can put that up,

2:46:36if the clerks could put that up.

2:46:37I think right now,

2:46:40Canada has never been in a situation

2:46:42where we've not been able to rely on our allies,

2:46:45the way we have in the past.

2:46:47And I've been on D lately in D lately

2:46:50because I'm retiring looking for some part-time work

2:46:52and I have never seen more recruitment being done

2:46:56by our Canadian military than I'm seeing on Indeed right now.

2:47:00So I think it's incredibly important

2:47:02that we equal one step further

2:47:04and support our reservists as we need them to take leave.

2:47:10So I am putting a motion on that staff be directed

2:47:12to report back to council on policy change proposals

2:47:16and financial implications associated

2:47:18with the city's military leave policy

2:47:20that would support reservists leave top up

2:47:22and continuation of benefits.

2:47:24That would also be similar

2:47:26to a pregnancy and parental leave top up.

2:47:29So it would vary depending on what the salary was,

2:47:32what we chose, or the next future council chose

2:47:34to what percentage that would be.

2:47:37So I would be looking for a seconder for that.

2:47:40It's like you have lots of seconders on that.

2:47:43Take your pick.

2:47:45Great, thanks for bringing that forward.

2:47:46Any comments or questions on this motion?

2:47:51Caster Busetel.

2:47:53Yes, thank you.

2:47:54And thank you to the mover for this.

2:47:55And the pregnancy leave is what came to mind.

2:47:58And I can't remember if it's one

2:47:59of the automatic categories on top up categories.

2:48:05Obviously it may have already been done

2:48:06by other municipalities and so on the top up

2:48:09for that category.

2:48:11I can't remember the act around that section.

2:48:14Are you aware?

2:48:15I'm gonna refer to staff,

2:48:16but I don't think there's an automatic top up

2:48:18for reservists that I'm aware of.

2:48:23Through you, Chair Caron.

2:48:24Do Councillor Busetel know currently

2:48:25for military reserve leave,

2:48:27there is no top up that the city provides.

2:48:29This direction should council approve it.

2:48:32Would trigger us to staff to go back

2:48:35and evaluate some of those options

2:48:36and report back to council accordingly.

2:48:39Thank you.

2:48:40Thanks.

2:48:41Any other questions?

2:48:41Okay, I don't see any.

2:48:43I will call the vote.

2:48:44Anyone against this recommendation?

2:48:47I don't see any.

2:48:48So that is unanimous as well.