A Canadian Summer Day
Photo Credit: Military Woman
Esprit de Corps Magazine August 2022 // Volume 29 Issue 7
Let's Talk About Women in the Military – Column 41
by Military Woman
Question:
How can we help improve fairness, inclusivity and resilience in the military related community while remaining financially prudent?
Answer:
That’s a great question, especially right now when the global pandemic has highlighted the ongoing existence of so many systemic inequities – both at work and at home. As a result, many Canadians are now reimagining how society could be more equitable and effective moving forward.
Because the pandemic has disrupted many previously unquestioned ways of how we did things, including at defence, we all have an opportunity to help Canada “build back better”. The “lazy hazy crazy days of summer “ (that hopefully everyone can have at least one or two of) can be a great source of creative thinking and brainstorming on how things could be, versus how they are.
Some summertime ponderings on how Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) could be reimagined.
It becomes a Veteran-centric and Veteran-accountable organization.
It treats all illnesses and injuries occurring during service as “service related” .
It bases program eligibility on a Veterans’ needs not using complex eligibility formulas.
It become a crown corporation with long-term budgets and permanent specialized staff.
It provides research, services, programs, and benefits equitable for all Veterans.
It works together with other government departments to best serve the needs of Veterans.
Ties executive performance bonuses to Veterans’ satisfaction levels and health outcomes.
States publicly why any Veteran Ombuds Office report recommendations are not actioned.
Offers a program similar to the US’s “Veterans Experience Office”.
Offers a capability similar to the US’s “Office of Health Equity”.
Offer a service similar to the US’s “Women Veterans Call Center”.
Communicates new Veteran related research, services, programs, and benefits effectively.
Ensures VAC funded third-party service providers are safe, effective, and inclusive.
Provides VAC employed life coaches for its clients, with priority VAC hires to Veterans.
Educate, identify and risk mitigate conflicts of interest within the Veteran ecosystem.
Include primary health care provider input on all Veteran health-impacting issues.
Formalizes the voices for women, Indigenous, racialized, and sexual minority Veterans.
Enables Veteran advocacy groups to work together collaboratively and effectively.
Some musings about a reimagined Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).
Offers quality, affordable 24/7/365 daycare access nationally.
Provides members the option to have their sperm/eggs stored prior to a deployment.
Educates all CAF members about operational military women’s health support issues.
Offer all releasing members barrier-free access to mental health wellbeing supports.
Military maintains primary medical care until provincial medical care access acquired.
Barrier free transfers to government employment if wanted upon military retirement.
Some suggestions about reimagined roles of Canadians.
Taxpayers holding government accountable for preventable military illness and injuries.
Women, as equal citizens, be considered part of any future calls for conscription,
Citizens, aged 18-25, complete a short but mandatory period of national service,
Citizens learn about what their military is and does in Canada.
Citizens understand the importance of welcoming Veterans into civilian community life .
Citizens hold elected federal politicians accountable for civilian oversight of the military.
Canadians declare to their elected officials what “military culture” they want CAF to have.
Media stops mislabeling military sexual misconduct as a “women’s” issue.”
Media empowers and supports men impacted by military sexual misconduct to be heard.
Researchers co-create all Veteran related research with Veteran lived-experience members.
Research ethics boards include Veteran members when reviewing Veteran related research.
Federal politicians all have first-hand exposure to the military.
Federal politicians stop referring to Canada as a “peacekeeping” nation and force.
Federal government self-generates its own health care providers (versus outsourcing).
Federal government develops an equivalent to the “US Public Health Services Corps”.
Government fund defence with more gender-based analysis money and expertise.
Federal parties agree to make Veteran health and wellbeing topics off limits for politicking.
What are your summer daydreaming ideas of how government could best “build back” and achieve a more equitable military-related community for all?
