Letter to MND: Submission of Governance Report

20 February 2017

 

The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, PC, OMM, MSM, CD, MP
Minister of National Defence
National Defence Headquarters
Major-General George R. Pearkes Building
101 Colonel By Drive,
13th Floor, North Tower
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K2

 

Dear Minister Sajjan:

I am pleased to submit to you our report entitled The Case for a Permanent and Independent Ombudsman Office: The Defence Community Deserves No Less. This report is submitted to you pursuant to paragraph 38(1)(b) of the Ministerial Directives respecting the Ombudsman for the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces.

For any Ombudsman to be effective the principles of independence, impartiality, fairness and confidentiality are critical.  Many of the practical challenges for the Office are a direct result of the governance structure butting up against one or more of the principles of ombudsmnary. This report analyzes the governance and administration of the Ombudsman’s Office.

As is standard practice, we will be publishing the report no sooner than 28 days from the date of this letter. As in the past, we will advise your Office of the exact date that we intend to publish.

I look forward to your response to our recommendations.  

Sincerely,

Gary Walbourne
Ombudsman