Response from the Minister of National Defence: Ombudsman Releases Special Report Outlining Delays in the Processing of Adjudications and Initial Authority Grievances

May 24, 2013

Mr. Pierre Daigle
Ombudsman for the Department of
National Defence and the Canadian Forces
100 Metcalfe Street, 12th Floor
Ottawa ON K1P 5M1
 

Dear Mr. Daigle:

Thank you for your letter of 14 March and 15 April 2013 requesting the opportunity to brief me prior to releasing your report entitled Justice Delayed is Justice Denied: A Report Outlining the Delays in the Processing of Adjudications and Initial Authority Grievances by the Director General Compensation & Benefits. 

The findings of your report were discussed at length with your staff and the Director General Compensation and Benefits staff, and as a result your vision and a number of recommendations are fully supported by me and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).

I note the adjudication requests are now 35 percent lower than in 2009, however, I want this to be much better.

I agree with your observations that the processing time must absolutely be improved.  In order to achieve this, the Chief of the Defence Staff is increasing its staff to ensure that the number of adjudication cases is reduced and processing times are improved.  Our goals are the same, in that we want to ensure that CAF personnel have a viable and timely mechanism to submit grievances.

A management action plan is currently being developed in order to fulfill the recommendations of your report and will include the collaborative way forward.  The action plan will be provided to you after receipt of the final report.  I appreciate discussing with you the key issues that affect the welfare of the men and women of the CAF in advance of the publication of your reports.

Thank you for your continued interest in the welfare of the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces.  

Sincerely,
 

Peter MacKay