Ottawa, March 18, 2005 -- Nearly ten years later, a former Canadian Forces member is still waiting to be reimbursed for mortgage charges incurred when he was posted and forced to sell his home. Military Ombudsman André Marin called on the Minister of National Defence to make things right by reimbursing the former member. In 1993, while serving in the CF, Mr. Bill Beswetherick, discharged his mortgage when he was required to sell his house due to being posted to another city. The bank required him to pay $3,500.10 in mortgage interest differential charges. At first, he was told by the CF that he was entitled to reimbursement and given a cheque to cover these fees. Later, he was advised that there was a change in policy and he had to repay the money. The former member filed a complaint through the CF grievance system in January 1995. The complaint made its way through the system until finally in November 2002, the Minister of National Defence denied his claim. "Although the Canadian Forces redress of grievance process was intended to be an informal process through which matters affecting CF members could be dealt with quickly," Mr. Marin concluded, "it has instead become a complicated and languid bureaucratic burden." Furthermore, the Ombudsman's investigation revealed that the Minister did not have the benefit of all of the information required to make a fair and informed decision about the complainant's case. The Ombudsman discovered that the Chief of the Defence Staff had approved three other identical claims. "The only reason the complainant's grievance was not approved is that it was routed through a different grievance procedure," noted Mr. Marin, "Mr. Beswetherick's case remained in the old grievance system and was denied, while other grievances based on the same circumstances were processed under the new grievance system and were granted." Mr. Marin issued his report to the Minister after attempts at resolving the complainant's case internally through the CF Grievance Authority were unsuccessful. The Ombudsman disagreed with the section's overly legalistic and bureaucratic approach to the grievances and cautioned the Minister in his report to "turn a critical and questioning eye to those who attempt to put bureaucratic hurdles and legal precepts in the way of ensuring that the complainant receives the benefit to which he is entitled." "It is important that the CF treat its members in a fair and consistent fashion. Entitlements to benefits should be applied in a manner that is both consistent and that, in my view, extends the benefit to the CF member wherever possible," Mr. Marin stated. The investigation was conducted after the complainant, frustrated with the grievance system, turned to the Ombudsman's Office for resolution. The special report Making Things Right: Unfair Treatment by CF Grievance System is available online at www.ombudsman.forces.gc.ca. -30- For more information: Barbara Theobalds Director, Communications and Media Relations Office of the Ombudsman, DND/CF Tel: (613) 992-6962 Bronwyn Cruden A/Communications Project Manager Office of the Ombudsman, DND/CF Tel: (613) 995-2386
