Letter To MND: Proposed Way Forward for Language and Cultural Advisors

8 March 2024

 

The Honourable Bill Blair, PC, COM, MP
Minister of National Defence
Department of National Defence and The Canadian Armed Forces
National Defence Headquarters
101 Colonel By Drive,
13^th Floor, North Tower
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K2

 

Dear Minister Blair,

Thank you for meeting with me on 28 February. I appreciated the opportunity to discuss the ongoing challenges facing the former Language and Cultural Advisors (LCAs) who served alongside our troops in Afghanistan. Your interest in this file, and the well-being of these individuals, was evident during our engagement.

As we discussed, these Canadian citizens were hired in Canada as civilian employees of the Department of National Defence and served on a term basis. I strongly believe that we have an obligation for their health, well-being, and financial support. The number of individuals is small; approximately sixty-five (65) Canadians served in this role during the Canadian Armed Forces’ military and training missions in Afghanistan. They made a decisive impact to CAF operations, but many have suffered significantly, and in silence, since then.

The adjudications that many of these individuals received from Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) were not positive, nor representative of their sacrifice to Canada. On an encouraging note, it appears that those who received favourable adjudications recognizing their illness or injury will finally have medical costs covered on a go-forward basis.

However, reimbursement of out-of-pocket medical expenses incurred prior to the date of decision, earnings loss, and other benefits and services that would stem from a positive and retroactive adjudication are simply not present for most if not all former LCAs. This must be addressed.

I believe that any considerations in addressing these gaps must include:

• Public recognition and commemoration of the Canadian citizens who deployed as LCAs while employed by the Department of National Defence
• The determination of a suitable financial recognition
• Assessments to all LCAs who have been affected by their service in Afghanistan to determine any gaps in the physical and psychological care required, and based on these assessments, fund a reasonable care plan.

Ministerial authority has been used in the past to address gaps in care and coverage for those who found themselves in situations where they did not have access to commensurate benefits and services to those who they served alongside. A similar program was stood up in response to my predecessor’s report on the 1974 Valcartier Cadets Grenade Incident and contains nearly identical provisions.

As you know, 10 March 2024 marks the 10^th anniversary of the completion of the Canadian Armed Forces deployment to Afghanistan, and cessation of military activity in that country. I believe that recognition of the former LCAs through this program would be a fitting way to close this important chapter in Canada’s history.

Sincerely,

 

Gregory A. Lick

Ombudsman