Glenda and Megan Wiloughby waiting for Leading Seaman James Wiloughby a Naval Communications and Information Operator on HMCS WINNIPEG. Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Winnipeg arrived home in Esquimalt, B.C. Friday Aug. 21 following a six and a half month deployment. After leaving in February, the ship spent two months as part of a NATO squadron fi ghting piracy in the Gulf of Aden and took part in two major international military exercises. Over the course of her deployment, HMCS Winnipeg sailed more than 90,000 kilometres and had stops in Japan, South Korea, Pakistan as well as various ports in Africa and Australia. (PHOTO: CORPORAL ALEX CROSKERY, ESQUIMALT © 2009 DND-MDN CANADA)
Mr. Gregory A. Lick, National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces Ombudsman
Distinguished colleagues,
These are my last two months as Ombudsman. I have made it my mission before the end of my mandate to bring more light on the unique issues and challenges facing military families. I know my successor and staff will continue to work towards what is right when I pass the torch to them this summer. We must keep fostering engagement between provincial, territorial, and private sector partners.
As you may know, my predecessor’s report from over 10 years ago, On the Homefront: Assessing the Well-being of Canada’s Military Families in the New Millennium was the catalyst to this very committee.
This report focused on the vital role played by military families. My office recommended 18 changes to address issues such as geographic location, continuous employment for military spouses, access to housing and health care, long- and short-term financial well-being, amongst others. Over the years, progress has been made to address the needs of military families.
In 2017, Military Family Services consulted with families and proposed a Comprehensive Military Family Strategy, a concrete roadmap to meet those needs. Significant time and effort were invested in its development. Unfortunately, Military Family Services has had to place the implementation of this strategy on hold because it still lacks approval.
In 2022, the Minister of National Defence at the time, Minister Anand, asked me for more information on how to assist military families. At the time, I had been at the Seamless Canada table for over three years and wrote a letter explaining the issues I had heard about. As I said in my letter, I firmly believe that Seamless Canada cannot reach its full potential without the Minister of National Defence and a select group of Cabinet and caucus colleagues directly participating in these discussions.
Organizers asked me to talk about what I, and my office, see and hear “on the ground” in our outreach activities since we last spoke. Last year, my office conducted 33 outreach activities, engaging over 3,500 constituents across the country. So, I can share with you today a recent picture of CAF families. It’s not pretty.
I heard requests for help: help finding affordable housing, help finding a family doctor, help finding a job, help after their children fell off waiting lists to see specialists when posted across the country, help finding childcare.
In fact, I heard from a member’s dependent that they had been homeless for 5 months. I hear from families using food banks. I have also heard from some who are one pay cheque away from being unable to pay the rent or needing to make the hard decision between food and rent.
Members expect their basic needs to be met in barracks. However, I was shocked when I saw photos of the deteriorating single quarters on bases that are unacceptable for any human in any situation.
As well, many members are on long waitlists for military housing, forcing them to live on the economy. This is a terrible situation to be in, especially for lower-ranked members, since there is a lack of local, suitable, and affordable accommodations across Canada.
A major obstacle for military spouses is that their professional and educational credentials do not easily transfer between provinces and territories. And we all know that to keep up with Canada’s current cost of living, families often need two incomes.
No CAF members nor their families should ever have to worry about putting a roof over their heads or to wonder where their next meal is coming from. When members worry about their basic needs every day, it impedes their ability to keep Canadians safe.
To reduce internal barriers for skilled workers in Canada, the federal government is calling for provinces and territories to streamline their trade certification standards for interprovincial consistency. I urge you to support this in every way you can. This initiative would assist military families immensely, who as you know, move across the country often. In return, this could help address skilled worker shortages across Canada.
The federal government is also pushing provinces and territories to support early childhood educators by developing workforce strategies to better support their recruitment, retention, and recognition. I was pleased to see Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island announcing new pension benefits for these essential workers. Other provinces and territories need to follow suit. More early childhood educators mean more daycare options for military families so partners and spouses can work knowing their children are well taken care of.
The last time I appeared before this committee, I told you about a recent study by the Canadian Institute for Military and Veterans Health Research. This study indicated that one of the primary reasons CAF members release is because of issues related to their families. After visiting many bases and wings across the country, I have no reason to think this has changed.
I would, however, like to highlight the great work that Military Family Services have done over the past year.
For instance, the new CareerCoach+ program. This program allows military spouses and partners to get timely access to career coaches who can help them strengthen their job seeking skills and overall employment readiness.
As well, Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services has partnered with Kids & Company, a licensed provider of centre-based childcare, for a pilot project to offer emergency back-up childcare to eligible CAF families.
The employment of spouses and partners, and childcare, contribute to a higher quality-of-life for Canadian military families. Addressing these issues will also help the CAF retain military personnel.
In government, we need those who are willing to act. As I’ve said before, we need the Minister to increase the level of political engagement with provincial and territorial counterparts here, at this table, elevating our conversations from discussion to decision-making.
Before I close my speech, I must say, I am truly inspired by the many initiatives undertaken by some provinces and territories since Seamless Canada was created. Your dedication and innovation are commendable.
Today, and after my tenure is over, I encourage you to continue sharing your experiences—both your triumphs and the challenges you have faced along the way. By sharing these insights at this table, we can collectively learn and grow.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to each of you for your commitment to the Seamless Canada initiative. Over the past few years, I have had the pleasure of meeting many of you, forging connections and gaining invaluable perspectives.
For instance, a call to the Newfoundland Education Minister led to the resolution of an issue concerning volunteer hours for a deserving family.
Similarly, our engagement with Manitoba proved fruitful when we collaborated to address delays in the issuance of provincial health cards.
As I said at the beginning of my speech, it’s been my mission to raise awareness to the unique issues facing military families and to see resolutions put in place. I urge you all, at the Seamless Canada table, to continue to work towards positive change.
Thank you.
