Letter to Base Commander: visit to Canadian Forces Support Group (Ottawa-Gatineau)

23 August 2022

 

Cmdre Daniel Bouchard
Commander, CAF TG HQ
Department of National Defence and
The Canadian Armed Forces
295 Coventry Rd, 2- Command Suite
Ottawa, ON K1A 0K2

 

Dear Cmdre Bouchard,

I wanted to convey my personal appreciation to you, Chief Warrant Officer Éric Drouin, and Lieutenant-Colonel Kenneth Bedley for your support throughout my visit with Canadian Forces Support Group (Ottawa-Gatineau) community from 20 June to 28 June 2022. My team and I were grateful for the opportunity to share information about our office, our services, and for the opportunity to hear directly from members, civilian employees, and their families.

Further to the out-brief I provided your team on 28 June 2022, I wanted to highlight some of the concerns and positive feedback that we heard during our visit. I recognize that you and your staff are aware of some of these issues, but I thought it would be helpful to detail them, and to offer you our assistance should you wish to follow up on any of these matters. I am a firm believer that collaboration can lead to long-lasting, positive change for the Defence community.

Cost of living/housing

The ever-increasing cost of living combined with tight housing markets complicates relocation for most CAF members and their families. This has especially impacted the junior ranks who have no dependents, in other words the families of one. It was also noted that the current Post-Living Differential (PLD) rates were not seen as adequate and the delays in updating the PLD have led to significant financial hardship. The PLD rate for Ottawa-Gatineau is currently at $0/month (as it acts as the baseline for the country) and has not been updated since the rates were frozen in 2009 and of course the cost of living in Ottawa has increased dramatically. We agree that the delays in reviewing and approving PLD is unfair to CAF members, and we will continue to raise this concern with the Minister, the Chief of the Defence Staff and the Deputy Minister.

I was pleased to hear that the Personnel Support Programs division of the Canadian Forces Military Family Services recently completed substantial upgrades to many of the 545 housing units.

Health Care

Families shared their concerns regarding the lack of access to health care and long waitlists for children with special needs. Our office is aware of these concerns and other challenges facing military families. This is a key topic in the Seamless Canada initiative, in which we have a seat and are raising these important issues.

Relocation

Service couples noted that it was difficult to get a posting in the geographical area they want, and there is a perception that leadership favours individuals over couples. I have heard this statement on other bases.

Members also raised challenges faced by their English-speaking spouses/partners when trying to find employment in Gatineau. They likened it to the difficulties faced by French-speaking spouses/partners when seeking employment in Cold Lake or a predominantly English-speaking community.

Many of these concerns echo complaints we have heard across Canada. Some of these issues will inform our upcoming systemic investigations and will be part of my engagement with the senior cadre within the DND/CAF. My team received individual complaints and requests for additional information during our visit. While they are not outlined above to ensure absolute confidentiality, we have reached out to those individuals to assist where and as required.

I recognize that some of the challenges mentioned above are outside your control. I encourage you to continue your ongoing efforts to address the concerns of the Defence community in Ottawa-Gatineau. Please do not hesitate to contact me or my office should you require assistance.

Thank you again to you and your staff for your assistance in organizing and implementing a successful outreach visit.

Sincerely,

Gregory A. Lick

 

Ombudsman

 

cc. CMPC

DVCDS

A/CEO CFMWS