Chief of the Defence Staff Responds to Ombudsman’s Concerns Regarding the Release of Injured Recruits at St-Jean

September 3, 2008

Ms. Mary McFadyen
Interim National Defence and
Canadian Forces Ombudsman
100 Metcalfe Street, 12th Floor
Ottawa ON K1P 5M1
 

Dear Ms. McFadyen
 

Thank you for your letter of 25 June 2008, in which you advised me of your concerns regarding the impact that Canadian Forces’ release policies are having on some of the recruits at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School (CFLRS). On receipt of your report, I directed the Chief of Military Personnel to conduct a detailed review of the processes in place at CFLRS, and in conjunction with your concerns, to provide me with recommendations.

This review has now been completed and I am pleased to inform you that CFLRS has developed a new policy with regard to the administration of those recruits who are injured. Presently, CFLRS is taking care of these injured members, with long expected healing times, by permitting them to be transferred to bases and establishments close to the member’s home. CFLRS, using and “individual based” Case Management protocol, is finding the most appropriate temporary disposition for each candidate while awaiting the final disposition. This concept ensures equity and fairness as each individual is treated in the most appropriate fashion according to his specific case. This also permits the medical system sufficient time to observe and to determine the most appropriate medical decision to ensure, when necessary, that the correct release item is applied. I have also directed a review of the files of all recruits released for medical reasons during the period in question to ensure that the correct release decisions were made.

Once again, I would like to thank you for your interest in the well being of our recruits, and would invite you to visit CFLRS in the future to see the impact of this new policy on our recruits.

Sincerely
 

General W.J. Natynczyk

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