Cadets: An Investigation of the Support Provided to Cadets Who Suffer an Illness or Injury as a Result of a Cadet Activity

Recommendation 1

We recommend that, in the event of an illness or injury arising out of an approved cadet activity, the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces ensure that cadets are compensated and supported in a manner that is commensurate with the compensation and support available to members of the Canadian Armed Forces.

Recommendation 1 status:  Accepted  Not implemented

By harmonizing the insurance for all Cadet Leagues (Recommendation 3), the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces are now in a position to complete the review of compensation and support for Cadets. This review will determine whether legislative changes, policy changes, or a combination of both of these approaches, are required. Once complete, an evaluation of insurance benefits and coverage under the Government Employees Compensation Act and applicable provincial insurance plans will follow. There is currently no target date for implementation of this recommendation.

Recommendation 2

With regard to the general availability of information on cadet entitlements, we recommend that the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces complete the following activities in time for summer training 2017:

1. Amalgamate information on cadets’ health care entitlements and Cadet League accident insurance policies and the process to access them;
2. Provide this information to all those in charge of supervising cadets;
3. Ensure compliance with the process;
4. Publish the same detailed information on the Internet; and
5. Include the same detailed information in documents provided to cadets and their families.

Recommendation 2 status:  Accepted   Partially Implemented

In 2019, the cadet organization will be implementing a policy and procedures suite as detailed under Recommendation 4. A streamlined process for notifying leagues of accident or injury as well as a procedure for accessing Cadet League insurances will be included in the suite. This recommendation is rated partially implemented due to the outstanding item of procedures.

Recommendation 3

As part of the next annual review of the accident insurance policies of the Cadet Leagues, we recommend that the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces ensure that the benefits are identical across the three Cadet Leagues.

Recommendation 3 status:  Accepted  Implemented

Recommendation 4

We recommend that the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces conduct necessary consultations and institute policies and procedures regarding Staff Cadets’ possible entitlements to compensation in case of illness or injury arising from their duties.

Recommendation 4 status:  Accepted   Partially Implemented

The Canadian Armed Forces have acknowledged that Staff Cadets are covered under the Government Employees Compensation Act, their respective provincial workers’ compensation, and League insurance policies. An interim policy is in place that reflects this, and work is underway to develop formalized policy and procedures.

Next steps

The office will continue to monitor departmental activities.

Definitions

Accepted

DND/CAF have indicated that they accept the recommendations.

Not Accepted

DND/CAF have not indicated that they accept the recommendations, or have indicated that they do not accept the recommendations.

Met / Implemented

Work completed to date fully or largely meets the intent of the recommendation, including circumstances where the recommendation has been implemented to the extent demonstrably possible within existing DND/CAF authorities.

Partially Implemented

Work is underway to address the substance of the recommendation, and it is reasonably probable that additional progress will be made;

Work began to address the substance of the recommendation, but one or more aspects of the recommendation have since become objectively un-implementable or overtaken by events.

Not Met / Not Implemented

Work to address the substance of the recommendation has not begun;

Work completed to date does not largely meet the intent of the recommendation, work started on implementation of the recommendation.

Unable to Assess

Insufficient information is available to make an assessment, including in circumstances where DND/CAF has not yet provided adequate responses.