The Ombudsman for the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces, Mr. Gary Walbourne, today released an analysis on the priority hiring of medically released Canadian Armed Forces members, entitled “Canadian Armed Forces best positioned to determine Public Service priority hiring for releasing members.”
Last year, the federal government introduced a bill to amend the Public Service Employment Act. One of the goals of this bill is to give ill and injured Canadian Armed Forces members priority for appointments to jobs in the public service. A key aspect of the bill is the need to choose one organization to determine whether a military member’s medical release is a result of service in the Canadian Armed Forces.
The Ombudsman is recommending that the Canadian Armed Forces, rather than Veterans Affairs Canada, be assigned the responsibility to make the determination, as it would encourage a straightforward and uninterrupted transition for former military members who have become ill or injured as a result of their service.
Jamie Robertson
Director of Communications
Office of the Ombudsman for the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces
613-995-9551
Jamie.Robertson@forces.gc.ca
Angelina Nikkel
A/Senior Communications Advisor
Office of the Ombudsman for the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces
613-995-8643
Angelina.Nikkel@forces.gc.ca
