Reservists, military families must be front and centre in defence policy review

“Call in the military” has become a common refrain when Canadian municipalities and provinces have faced unforeseen challenges. Our Reserve Force members are often called upon to respond to these requests. And in recent years, they have been called upon to serve in ways we couldn’t have comprehended just a few years ago: responding to floods, forest fires, and calls for pandemic assistance in long-term care homes. Reservists show up and perform, no matter what they are asked to do. And with reconstitution efforts underway, they will be asked to do more to fill in the gaps within the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). It’s not my place to comment on whether the role of our reservists is to respond to ever-increasing domestic missions. But I can help to ensure that when they serve, the CAF and the Department of National Defence (DND) treat them fairly in return. This responsibility also includes provinces and territories, and the health-care systems that are within their domain. We must make sure that DND and the CAF take care of our Reserve Force members, and that when they sign up, reservists know they’ll be cared for as long as they serve. I recently released a report card on the recommendations related to the Reserve Force that my office has made since 2015. While certain recommendations are “partially implemented,” none have been fully implemented by DND and the CAF. This is unacceptable by any standard. To fully build the CAF, we must get the foundation correct. And the treatment of our Reserve Forces is a good place to start. For instance, better communications with our reservists on the benefits and services available to them, as well as regular health-care assessments, would be positive first steps. We must ensure they receive proper medical care for any injuries they suffer while on duty or that arise because of their service. Our previous reports note that these medical services must be properly resourced to support our reservists. To further explore access to mental health care provided to reservists, my office recently launched an investigation. While all investigations we undertake are complex in nature, it boils down to one essential question: do Reserve Force members have access to mental health resources following domestic operations? This investigation is in the very early stages, and I look forward to making it public in 2023. Earlier this month, I wrote a letter to the minister of national defence outlining several ways that she can help address challenges facing military families. Regardless of being a regular force member or a reserve force member, a well-supported family is essential to allowing a member to focus on their daily undertakings. I encouraged the minister and senior leadership to focus on the following key initiatives: Raising the level of political involvement between federal ministers and their provincial/territorial counterparts. This is critical to breaking down the obstacles that military families face in accessing provincial/territorial services—particularly health care.Examining funding mechanisms for initiatives in support of the Comprehensive Military Family Strategy, an initiative that shows great promise for comparatively low investment.Increasing focus on military spousal employment and childcare access.Continuing to address issues and challenges facing members as they transition from military to civilian life, including implementing outstanding recommendations made by our office. Many benefits available to CAF members and their families fall under the authority of the Treasury Board. Government expenditures of any kind must face central agency scrutiny. While a necessary step to ensure fiscal accountability, the process can be lengthy and shackle the agility of DND and the CAF to respond to the needs and exceptional circumstances often faced by CAF members and their families. One such area that has been highlighted is the volatile cost of living and the fact that some allowances are out of sync with the reality of military family expenses. These delays in responding to the needs of the CAF are not conducive to the recruitment and retention of CAF members and ultimately to the operational effectiveness of the CAF. The CAF, DND, and the Treasury Board must establish a dialogue to better articulate these needs, and the potential consequences of not “getting it right.” Military operations are not run by outside civilian agencies, and the management of military personnel and their families must be considered differently, with greater responsibility placed in the hands of those who understand the military. As I and my predecessors have articulated on many occasions, the failure to address issues impacting CAF personnel and their families can quickly snowball, having the potential to impact recruitment and retention, and eventually national security. Gregory Lick is the National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces Ombudsman. He has held the position since October 2018, and previously spent 33 years in the Canadian Coast Guard and 17 years as a naval reservist. The Hill Times

Reservists, military families must be front and centre in defence policy review

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Reservists, military families must be front and centre in defence policy review

The failure to address issues impacting CAF personnel and their families can quickly snowball, having the potential to impact recruitment and retention, and eventually national security.

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