Mobility Entitlement for Former Canadian Forces Members

Summary#

The final regulation Eligibility of Certain Former Members of the Canadian Forces Regulations: SOR/2025-25 gives some former members of the Canadian Forces extra time to use their public service "mobility entitlement" after a data-transfer problem. It applies to people who met service and release rules between November 13, 2020 and January 18, 2024, and lets them take part in internal public service job competitions until April 1, 2029. The regulation came into force when registered on February 14, 2025.

What it does#

• Defines who is an eligible person: someone not employed indeterminately in the public service who
  • completed their third year of service in the Canadian Forces,
  • was honourably released during the period November 13, 2020 to January 18, 2024, and
  • created an account in the Public Service Resourcing System (GC Jobs) on or before January 18, 2024.
• Gives eligible people the right, until April 1, 2029, to
  • participate in advertised internal appointment processes as if they were public servants, and
  • make a complaint under section 77 of the Public Service Employment Act.
• Says that if a job competition includes an employment‑equity requirement (a criterion for belonging to a designated group), eligible people must meet that requirement.
• Confirms the regulation came into force on its registration date (February 14, 2025).

Who's affected#

• Mainly former members of the Canadian Forces who meet the three conditions above (service, release date, and a GC Jobs account).
• The issue arose because a data transfer from the Department of National Defence (DND) to GC Jobs was not working properly from November 13, 2020 to January 18, 2024, so some people were not flagged as eligible during that time.
• The Public Service Commission and departments subject to the Public Service Employment Act will apply the rule and update GC Jobs.
• The notice does not give a total headcount of how many people were affected. It does give group breakdowns for the affected population: 19.6% women, 4.1% Indigenous Peoples, 5.1% persons with disabilities, 24.1% visible minorities, and 8.3% who belong to more than one designated group. Regional shares include 27.9% in Ontario (outside the National Capital Region), 15.4% in Québec, 10.9% in British Columbia and 10% in the National Capital Region.

Why it matters#

• The change fixes a technical problem that may have shortened some people’s five-year mobility entitlement in the public service. Those affected may have missed internal job posts they were otherwise entitled to see and apply for.
• Internal job competitions in the federal public service tend to produce more appointments than external ones. Giving affected former members access to internal postings until April 1, 2029 increases their chances of getting hired into the public service.
• The Public Service Commission says the system already supports this entitlement and that implementing the change will have minimal cost.