Canadian Rangers: A Systemic Investigation of the Factors That Impact Healthcare Entitlements and Related Benefits of the Rangers

December 2017

In 2016, this Office launched a systemic investigation of the Canadian Rangers organization to identify any factors that could impact Canadian Rangers’ access to health care entitlements and related benefits.

Progress report on the status of recommendations

October 2022

•  4 Recommendations Made
•  4 Recommendations Accepted
•   4 Recommendations Not Implemented

Recommendation 1:

We once again recommend that the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces eliminate ambiguity and inconsistency in language in the policy framework for Reservists, with a focus on health care entitlements, as soon as possible, and no later than spring 2019.

Recommendation 1 status:  Accepted  Not implemented

The Queen’s Regulations and Orders (QR&Os) Chapter 34 Medical Services and Chapter 35 Dental Services have been submitted for review without an anticipated completion date. The policy updates will assist in interpreting Reservist health care entitlements, including for Canadian Rangers. Our office will continue to monitor progress for this recommendation.

Recommendation 2:

We recommend that the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces ensure compliance with the existing illness and injury reporting process so that Canadian Rangers are not inadvertently barred from accessing their health care entitlements and related benefits.

Recommendation 2 status:  Accepted  Not implemented

The Canadian Armed Forces has demonstrated an effort to improve compliance with the existing illness and injury reporting process. Several initiatives are planned, in progress, or awaiting validation, including:

• A review of unit Standard Operating Procedures – in progress
• A process map for illness and injury reporting and tracking – awaiting validation
• Publication of direction and guidance on injury, reporting, and tracking – planned 
• New staff positions to support Canadian Ranger Patrol Groups – planned

However, much still remains to be done. Our office will continue to monitor the progress of these initiatives and this recommendation.     

Recommendation 3:

We recommend that the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces ensure the delivery of health care to Canadian Rangers to which they are entitled by:

• 3.1 Engaging with Canadian Rangers with the view of identifying the barriers to their access to Canadian Armed Forces health care, and their health care needs within their social and cultural contexts.
• 3.2 Identifying and implementing a service delivery model for Canadian Armed Forces health care that is responsive to the identified needs of the Canadian Rangers.

Recommendation 3 status:  Accepted  Not implemented

Informal consultations have been held by some CRPGs, however no higher-level formal consultations have been conducted with the Canadian Rangers to date. The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) has indicated there is currently no scope to project Canadian Forces Health Services capabilities and capacities into regions where the Canadian Ranger Patrols are located.  Our office will continue to monitor and report on the progress of this recommendation.

Recommendation 4:

We recommend that the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces take concrete steps to ensure Canadian Rangers have a clear understanding of the importance of reporting injuries, and to improve their knowledge and awareness of the health care entitlements and related benefits available to them by:

• 4.1 Amalgamating information on Canadian Ranger health care entitlements and related benefits; distributing this information to Canadian Rangers in various languages and formats as necessary, by fall 2018.
• 4.2 Ensuring that this information is integrated into formal and any other relevant training offered to the Canadian Rangers, by fall 2018.

Recommendation 4 status:  Accepted  Not implemented

The CA identified a number of approaches that are taken to provide information to Canadian Rangers on the importance of reporting injuries and health care entitlements and related benefits. However, this information hasn’t been amalgamated and distributed to Canadian Rangers in various languages and formats. Our office will continue to monitor and report on the progress of this recommendation.