Year in Review

This was a significant year for Seamless Canada with the initiative achieving a number of key milestones. There were three valuable SCSC conferences held: 

• Annual conference on June 14, 2022
• Semi-annual conference on December 5, 2022
• Annual conference on May 24, 2023

With the goal to introduce working groups on each of the themes in a deliberate organized manner to enable focused discussion, a Spousal/Partner Employment working group was introduced as a pilot in early 2023. The working groups will continue with a second working group focused on childcare. Some of the major accomplishments for this year include the adoption of the SCSC Terms of Reference, the appointment of the first provincial/territorial co-chair, and the creation and endorsement of a supporting governance framework.

Governance

Each province and territory have endorsed the SCSC’s Terms of Reference, which serves as a governance framework to officially establish the SCSC as an intergovernmental body to encourage dialogue and coordinate efforts targeting relocation barriers for military families. The Terms of Reference lay out the objectives, membership, roles and responsibilities of participating delegates setting conditions for sustained discussion through working groups and subcommittees.

Many provincial/territorial jurisdictions signed the Terms of Reference on June 14, 2022. After the conference, virtual participants signed the document during signing ceremonies in their respective province or territory. The ceremonies were organized through partnerships with their respective CAF Regional Joint Task Force Commands in a way that amplified connections between the provinces and territories and local CAF leadership.

The governance framework outlines two annual conferences of the SCSC (one virtual and one in-person), two annual meetings at the senior-officials level, and monthly working groups to progress particular areas of focus.

Provincial Co-Chair

As outlined in the Terms of Reference, the SCSC will now include the leadership of a representative from one of the provinces and territories to serve as the SCSC co-chair for a two-year rotational appointment. The first provincial/territorial co-chair, Minister Mary Wilson of New Brunswick, was appointed on June 14, 2022. Minister Wilson is the Minister of Service New Brunswick and Minister responsible for Military Affairs. As an MLA, her riding is Oromocto-Fredericton-Lincoln, which includes 5th Canadian Division Support Base – Gagetown, the second largest military base in Canada and the largest military facility in Eastern Canada. New Brunswick has long been a staunch supporter of CAF families. The province has promoted open lines of communications with the military community including local base leadership and the Military Family Resource Center, while playing a leadership role as part of CMEC to help students transfer more easily between different school systems. The establishment of a provincial/territorial co-chair is a tangible sign of the multiple jurisdiction nature of the SCSC, and the importance of provinces and territories in helping to reduce the relocation challenges that military families encounter. It is an important milestone in the sharing of responsibility for this initiative.

Working Groups

Theme-specific working groups were designed to assemble relevant, official working-level provincial and territorial experts around the table to discuss issues, share best practices and identify potential solutions to identified barriers while respecting the jurisdictional rights of each province and territory.

The working group on Military Spousal/Partner Employment met twice, on February 27, 2023, and April 24, 2023. The working group sought to gather data on challenges regarding access to provincial/territorial employment supports such as job search assistance, training programs and financial assistance programs.

The outcomes from the working group meetings held thus far have provided meaningful momentum regarding military spouse/partner employment. The dialogue facilitated the collection of information from the provinces and territories, and a better understanding of information required by provinces and territories to analyze their available assistance, which in turn will inform data collection in the future. The need to better articulate the impact of military postings on families was identified. To further discussions, a posting scenario document was developed to assist the provinces and territories in evaluating potential barriers to employment supports.

One potential barrier identified through the working group forum was the requirement in some provinces and territories to be a resident prior to accessing advanced employment supports such as skills development, training, and financial assistance. Often residency status is defined as the period after living for 90 days in the new province or territory.

The working group forum also provided the platform to share some of DND/CAF’s efforts to support employment opportunities for military spouses. This includes CFMWS’s Military Spousal Employment Network (MSEN), a virtual platform to which military spouses can self-identify, and national employers have access to, in an effort to streamline employment opportunities for military spouses/partners. Many provinces and territories were interested in this platform and have commenced discussions with CFMWS to consider joining the provincial/territorial public service to the MSEN offering another avenue of potential employment to military spouses/partners. Alberta has recently joined with more provincial/territorial jurisdictions expected to join soon.

Working group participants were also exposed to a second product, the Military Spouse Employment Initiative (MSEI), which is another virtual platform providing military spouses/partners a manner to self-identify for employment opportunities in the federal public service. Work is ongoing to ensure all federal departments are aware of the portal.

Other Areas of Progress

• CFMWS is expanding its education counsellor services to ensure students are prepared for the new school system.
• The Military Family Resource Centers on many bases and wings operate childcare centers. CFMWS has undertaken a comprehensive review of childcare supports with the aim of considering augmenting available supports.
• Development began on a Seamless Canada webpage to provide important resources and links for each province and territory related to Seamless Canada focus areas.