Seamless Canada continues work for Military Families
May 22, 2024 - Defence Stories
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The Seamless Canada Steering Committee (SCSC) held its annual conference at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa on 22 May, 2024. From the left: Commander Military Personnel Lt.-Gen. Lise Bourgon, Member of Legislative Assembly in Manitoba Mr. David Pankratz, Parliamentary Secretary Marie-France Lalonde, MND Bill Blair, Hon. Mary Wilson, Hon. Barbara Adams, Director General Military Personnel – Strategic Maj.-Gen. Stéphane Boivin.
Photo credit: Richard Guertin
The Minister of National Defence (MND) and the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) joined representatives from provinces and territories at the annual Seamless Canada Steering Committee (SCSC) meeting in Ottawa. The annual meeting, co-chaired by Parliamentary Secretary to the MND, Marie-France Lalonde, and Minister Mary Wilson from New Brunswick, focused on prioritization of issues impacting military families in four main areas: childcare, education, spousal employment, and healthcare.
Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members and their families are required to relocate anywhere in Canada or internationally upon receiving a posting message. The SCSC recognizes the challenges CAF members and their families face in the domestic relocation process. With the goal of reducing relocation barriers and improving the coordination of services for CAF members and their families across Canada, representatives gathered to discuss efforts and engagements to target challenges such as the transferability of accreditation, child care, and health care access.
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The Honourable Mary Wilson, MLA New Brunswick (L), hands over the provincial chair of the Seamless Canada Steering Committee (SCSC) to the Honourable Barbara Adams, MLA Nova Scotia, at the SCSC Annual Conference in Ottawa on 22 May, 2024.
Photo credit: Richard Guertin
The CDS highlighted the need to support CAF families so that CAF members can serve to their fullest capability and noted that supporting CAF members and their families is essential to the CAF’s readiness and operational effectiveness. He underscored that CAF members should not need to choose between serving their country and supporting their family’s needs and aspirations.
The annual meeting also marked the appointment of a new co-chair. The SCSC appointed Minister Barbara Adams, the Minister responsible for Military Relations in Nova Scotia, as the next co-chair for a two-year period. Her predecessor, Minister Mary Wilson – a military family member herself – had co-chaired since 2022 and hosted the 2023 annual meeting in New Brunswick. Throughout her time as co-chair, Minister Wilson demonstrated staunch dedication and commitment to improving the relocation experience for CAF members and their families.
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Canada’s Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) General Wayne Eyre presents his commander’s coin to the Honourable Mary Wilson, the outgoing provincial chair of the Seamless Canada Steering Committee (SCSC), at the SCSC annual conference in Ottawa on 22 May, 2024. The coin was awarded in recognition of remarkable service to the Canadian Armed Forces thru her work as the SCSC co-chair from June, 2022 to May, 2024.
Photo credit: Richard Guertin
CAF members and their families are encouraged to visit the Seamless Canada website to access more than 150 relocation resources. Military members and their families are encouraged to share their relocation experiences with the Seamless Canada team by completing the spousal employment, childcare, and healthcare feedback forms. This information helps guide the Seamless Canada team in discussions with the provinces and territories to improve services.
Seamless Canada is one of several initiatives that National Defence and the CAF have launched to improve the lives of military personnel and their families.
Look for the Seamless Canada website on your posting message for the link to the Seamless Canada website!