The Eligibility of Certain Former Members of the Canadian Forces Regulations (SOR/2025-25) is a legislative update aimed at addressing a technical issue that impacted the ability of some eligible former members of the Canadian Forces to fully participate in federal public service employment opportunities.

The regulations are established under section 21 of the Public Service Employment Act (PSEA) and offer certain veterans an extended opportunity to apply for internal public service positions. The issue arose from a malfunction in the Public Service Resourcing System (GC Jobs), which occurred between November 13, 2020, and January 18, 2024. This malfunction prevented eligible individuals from accessing advertised internal job postings, a critical part of their mobility entitlement under the PSEA. Mobility entitlement allows former Canadian Forces members to apply to internal appointments within the federal public service, with the same treatment as public servants during the hiring process.

To remedy the situation, the regulations outline that certain eligible former members of the Canadian Forces, who completed at least three years of service and were honorably released between November 13, 2020, and January 18, 2024, will be granted an additional period to participate in internal appointment processes. These individuals must have also created an account in the Public Service Resourcing System before January 18, 2024. The eligibility period for these individuals extends until April 1, 2029, offering them a chance to apply for job opportunities in the federal public service, compensating for the lost time caused by the data transfer issue.

The regulatory framework defines an “eligible person” as one who is not employed in the public service for an indeterminate period, has met the service and release criteria specified, and has registered on the Public Service Resourcing System within the required timeframe. During the eligibility period, these individuals are entitled to apply for advertised internal positions as if they were public servants, ensuring they are not disadvantaged by the previous technical issue. However, if the position requires meeting specific criteria related to designated groups under the Employment Equity Act, these individuals must also fulfill that requirement.

This adjustment is important because the Public Service Employment Act provides specific mechanisms for supporting the reintegration of veterans and former members of the Canadian Forces into federal public service employment. The five-year mobility entitlement is a key benefit for eligible individuals, allowing them to apply for internal positions that are otherwise restricted to public servants.

These regulations are designed to rectify the situation by extending the deadline for the affected individuals to access these employment opportunities. The date of April 1, 2029, was chosen because it marks five years from the re-establishment of the data transfer process in January 2024, which restored access to advertised internal appointment processes for those who had been impacted.

Canada (2025-25) February 26, 2025