Service versus Self

May 2022

The Office of the Ombudsman for the Department of National Defence (DND) and Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) has been interested in issues relating to the administration of compassionate postings, compassionate status and contingency cost moves for personal reasons since 2013, with the On the Homefront report taking a first look at issues affecting military families. Contingency cost moves for personal reasons, compassionate status, and compassionate postings continue to be an area where the CAF could improve support for Regular Force members and their families and have a positive impact on recruitment and retention.. As such, this investigation was launched in January 2021.

Progress report on the status of recommendations

June 2025

•  3 recommendations made
•  3 recommendations accepted
•  3 recommendation implemented

Progress report definitions

Recommendation 1

By May 2024, the Canadian Armed Forces complete a review and update to DAOD 5003-6, and by May 2023, provide clarification through official supplemental documentation available on the internet. This review or provision of information should ensure:

1. Eligibility criteria and limitations, guidelines and service standards are included;
2. A Gender Based Analysis Plus analysis is completed;
3. All reference documents that inform the process for contingency cost moves for personal reasons, compassionate status and compassionate postings, and available resources, are identified and accessible; and
4. That the rationale, the resources for Canadian Armed Forces members and families, and all available recourse mechanisms are included in any decision letter.

Recommendation 1 status:  Implemented

• Recommendation 1

  In March 2025, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) published Canadian Armed Forces Military Personnel Instruction 02/25 – Contingency Cost Moves for Personal Reasons, Compassionate Status and Compassionate Posting. This new policy includes eligibility criteria, limitations, service standards, and additional information regarding recourse mechanisms for contingency cost moves, compassionate status and compassionate postings. Our office also confirmed that a GBA Plus analysis was completed as part of the policy development.

  Supplementary documents and resources are available and accessible on the Defence Network and the external website. These include: a simplified process clarification document, transmission documents, templatesand frequently asked questions on contingency cost moves for personal reasons, compassionate status and compassionate postings.

  Additionally, the CAF has established a decision letter template which includes sections for providing the decision rationale, available resources and recourse mechanisms. This helps to standardize the information provided to requestors. 

  The intent of this recommendation has been met and is considered implemented.

Recommendation 2

By May 2024, the Director General Military Careers, in consultation with other stakeholders involved in the process, strengthen oversight of contingency cost moves for personal reasons, compassionate status and compassionate postings and leverage data to improve their administration from start to finish. This includes:

1. A formal tracking system for requests and decision letters which is accessible to stakeholders and contains privacy safeguards; 
2. Enhancing data integrity and quality controls;
3. Establishing a formalized Lessons Learned framework; and
4. Detailing trends in requests regularly and collecting disaggregated data.

Recommendation 2 status:  Implemented

• Recommendation 2

  We intended for this recommendation to strengthen the oversight of contingency cost moves, compassionate status, and compassionate postings. Director General Military Careers (DGMC) is now using a secure system for data retention and is using a spreadsheet for non-sensitive information within the Defence Network. This enhances data integrity, standardizes inputs and respects privacy safeguard. DGMC is performing trend analysis on information going forward from 2024. A process for Lessons Learned and file discussions is in place and followed by all three of the decision makers in the process.

  The intent of this recommendation has been met and is considered implemented.

Recommendation 3

By May 2023, Director Military Family Services develop baseline resources for families with disabilities to help them access information that is tailored to their needs, regardless of where they are posted.

Recommendation 3 status:  Implemented

• Recommendation 3

  The Director Military Family Services has progressed greatly in helping families with disabilities access information regardless of where they are posted. The following are some of these achievements: 

  • In 2022, Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS) launched a website (https://cfmws.ca/support-services/families/children-youth/families-with-special-needs) that includes resources for families with disabilities and special needs. This website contains expanded information, referral, and program offerings tailored to the needs of military families.

  • In 2023, the Military Family Services (MFS) developed an Education Team (https://cfmws.ca/support-services/education) to provide military families with knowledge, coaching, and tools on navigating educational transitions, while fostering community awareness and advocacy about the unique CAF reality. The MFS Education Team has also published a comprehensive Education Resources Guide (https://cfmws.ca/support-services/education/education-resources-guide) to assist mobile military families navigate regional supports and services related to education in each province and territory. Each Provincial/Territorial landing page listed in the guide also includes a list of special education resources currently available that military families can access (https://cfmws.ca/support-services/education/education-by-province).

  • In Fall 2023, Support Our Troops launched the Support Our Troops Tutoring Program (https://www.supportourtroops.ca/TutoringProgram). This program provides financial assistance to CAF families in the first year of a posting to a new community for learners requiring tutoring support as recommended by their school. This program supports dependent children in CAF families, from kindergarten to grade 12.

  • Other initiatives implemented by MFS includes the establishment of a dedicated cell to support the special needs education requirements of children and youth by the Virtual Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC).

  As the baseline information for families with special needs is now available to all members and their families across Canada, we consider this recommendation implemented. We are reassured by the significant effort undertaken by MFS to provide continuous support to military families with unique circumstances.