Marking Time: A decade of stalled progress for the Primary Reserve

In December 2024, the Ombud launched a systemic review into the delays in implementing our Primary Reserve recommendations made in 2016.

Primary Reserve members are increasingly relied upon for domestic emergencies, yet they continue to face inequitable treatment related to financial, medical and administrative challenges should they become ill or injured. 

During our systemic review we interviewed senior leaders from the Canadian Armed Forces to better understand the barriers they face in implementing recommendations from our reports: Compensation Options for Ill and Injured Reservists and Part-time Soldiers with Full-time Injuries. We have renewed our outstanding recommendations and brought to light some emerging issues. Our work aims to support the broader efforts toward the reconstitution of the Canadian Armed Forces by addressing systemic challenges within the Reserve Force.