Systemic investigation into issues affecting military families, with a focus on compassionate postings

The investigation

The Office of the Ombudsman is conducting a systemic investigation into issues affecting military families, with a focus on compassionate postings.

As part of our investigation, we will be interviewing various constituency groups and stakeholders. Our goal for conducting these interviews is to gain a better understanding of the administrative, procedural, and policy challenges these groups face when a compassionate posting, compassionate status or contingency cost move is requested.

We are interested in hearing from you if you are a member of one of the following two groups:

1. Families of Canadian Armed Forces members

Families of current and former members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) who submitted a request for a compassionate posting, compassionate status or contingency cost move between September 2017 and March 2021. This includes: 

• spouses and partners,
• former spouses and partners who share custody with a military member, or
• adult family members, including extended family members.

If you would like to participate in an interview, contact us at OmbudsmanSystemicInvestigations-EnquetesSystemiques@forces.gc.ca before 18 June 2021.

2. Current and former Canadian Armed Forces members

Current or former CAF members who considered a compassionate posting, compassionate status, or contingency cost move between September 2017 and March 2021, but who did not submit a formal request.

If you would like to participate in an interview, contact us at OmbudsmanSystemicInvestigations-EnquetesSystemiques@forces.gc.ca before 18 June 2021.

We will conduct all interviews in a confidential manner in keeping with the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act. This means we will not provide your personal information to anyone without your consent unless required by law. In addition, we will not use your name in our final report. Learn more by referring to DND/CAF Ombudsman Office information.

Background

In 2020, we reviewed the most common issues affecting military families that constituents brought to our attention. Compassionate postings, including contingency cost moves and compassionate status, was one topic that we felt needed further investigation. As a result, we launched this systemic investigation in January 2021. We will provide decision makers with evidence-based recommendations in order to contribute to substantial and long-lasting improvements to the well-being of CAF members and their families.