Question Period Note: DND/CAF Ombudsman Report on CAF Compensation and Benefits Grievance Process

What steps is DND/CAF taking to address the Ombudsman’s report on deficiencies in the CAF compensation and benefits grievance process?

• I welcome the Ombudsman’s report on grievances related to military compensation and benefits.
• The report’s findings align with a number of initiatives already underway and will prove helpful in enhancing our current efforts.
• This includes important work that we are undertaking around the Canadian Armed Force grievance system.
• For instance, as an important first step in our modernization efforts, we launched a new digital grievance submission form last February.
• This digital form is intended to simplify, standardize, and streamline the military grievance submission and resolution processes.
• Additionally, the CAF Grievance Authority is setting the conditions to launch a new grievance centre of expertise in Fall 2024.
• This will allow both members and chains of command to have direct access to grievance experts, providing them with direct support on submitting and adjudicating grievances.
• We are also working diligently to reduce our backlog through a full audit and prioritization of aging files, while streamlining the decision-making process.
• National Defence is committed to addressing the recommendations in the report and further improve our processes wherever possible.

Report: Getting Redress Right

• The report contains seven recommendations:

  1. By fall 2024, the CAF formalize a method to inform members during the grievance submission of any limits in the military grievance process, including recourse options for non-grievable matters.
  2. By spring 2025, the Minister of National Defence engage with the appropriate authorities to seek the authority for decision makers within the CAF grievance process to interpret policies the way that National Joint Council grievances are adjudicated, including the flexibility to reach decisions that meet the intent of the policy.
  3. By spring 2025, the CAF develop a formal method to identify and address issues related to compensation and benefits policies.
  4. By fall 2024, the CAF ensure information on the military grievance process, including CAF members’ rights and limits, is accessible to all members, leadership, and CAF authorities on all platforms (Intranet, Internet, CAF App).
  5. By spring 2025, the CAF, in consultation with the Treasury Board and National Joint Council, ensure CAF leadership with compensation and benefits authorities and grievance authorities have a better understanding of their roles, responsibilities and authorities.
  6. By spring 2025, the CAF establish a communications plan to ensure transparency and educate CAF members on the Treasury Board and National Joint Council policies and decisions.
  7. By spring 2025, the CAF develop an internal process to communicate key issues impacting CAF members to the Treasury Board and the National Joint Council.

• In a May 17, 2024, letter to MND, the Ombudsman notes that the timely implementation of the report’s recommendations will assist the CAF’s efforts to fulfill its grievance modernization commitment made in the 2024-2025 Departmental Plan and will contribute to address concerns about the military grievance process highlighted in the 2021 Fish and 2022 Arbour reviews.

• The report acknowledges the ongoing CAF Grievance Process Transformation that aims to streamline the grievance process and address longstanding issues.

• On June 18, 2024, the Ombudsman released its report entitled Getting Redress Right: An investigation into the inequities Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members face when they have limited or no grievance rights.
• The report focuses on the CAF’s limited authority to resolve military compensation and benefits grievances, which are regulated by Treasury Board.
  • This is the second of two Ombudsman reports on military complaint mechanisms.
• The report identified that unlike their civilian colleagues, CAF members cannot access a grievance review to determine if the CAF treated them within the intent or “spirit” of the directive. The result is a disparity in benefits and longer resolution time when compared to civilians.
  • The report outlines four areas of concern:
  • The CAF's lack of authority to provide redress,
  • Inadequate tracking of analytics and trends,
  • Low levels of awareness and expertise among CAF leadership, and
  • A lack of clarity regarding the roles, responsibilities, and authorities of CAF representatives and grievance authorities.