Letter to new MND: outlining independence issues
2 November 2021
The Honourable Anita Anand, PC, MP
Minister of National Defence
National Defence Headquarters
Major-General George R. Pearkes Building
13th Floor, North Tower
101 Colonel By Drive
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K2
Dear Minister Anand,
I would like to congratulate you on your appointment as Minister of National Defence. While the issues currently facing the Department and the Canadian Armed Forces are challenging, I have great confidence that you will address them with a hands-on and results-oriented approach. I look forward to working with you as your special advisor with a mandate to seek improvements to the welfare of members of the Defence Community.
I understand that we will be given an opportunity to brief you and your staff on the operations of the office of the Ombudsman. I am available at your convenience.
In the meantime, given your expertise on matters of governance and administrative process, I am enclosing documents that we have published relating to the governance of the Office of the Ombudsman. These documents outline governance issues that have impacted my office since its inception, particularly creating barriers to our effectiveness and efficiency. The documents are also available on our website.
The current crisis in the military has highlighted the importance of good governance and independent oversight in protecting members of the Defence Community. I believe that with a proper governance structure, the Office of the Ombudsman can better perform its functions as an independent oversight and complaints-resolution mechanism. I will make the experts in my office available should you wish to have more extensive discussions on this topic.
As your special advisor I will give you objective, well-researched, and evidence-based advice on DND/CAF issues, drawing from both the professionals in my office and my broad-based contacts across the Defence Community. I look forward to working with you.
Sincerely,
Gregory A. Lick
Ombudsman