Letter to MND: Discussion on Recommendation 103

26 September 2025

 

The Honourable David J. McGuinty, P.C., M.P.
Minister of National Defence
101 Colonel By Drive
Ottawa, ON K1A 0K2

 

Dear Minister McGuinty,

Thank you once again for the warm welcome extended to me and members of my Management Team during our meeting on 16 September 2025.

It is a privilege to serve as your Special Advisor and Ombudsman for the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces. I look forward to working closely with you to address challenges and systemic barriers affecting our Defence Team. We have taken careful note of your priorities and will focus our efforts on areas where we can deliver meaningful and measurable improvements for the well-being of CAF members.

As a further demonstration of your support for the Office, I would welcome the opportunity to accompany you from time to time during visits to Defence Team locations—ensuring our presence is felt on the ground and that members see firsthand our shared commitment to hearing their experiences directly.

I appreciated the opportunity to discuss Justice Fish’s Recommendation 103, which states:

“There should be an independent review of oversight and redress mechanisms for the Canadian Armed Forces. The review should examine the operation of the Office of the Ombudsman for the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces, and whether additional measures are needed to reinforce its independence and effectiveness. The review should examine the experience of other democracies and best practices elsewhere in government. It should consider the roles and responsibilities of a general oversight organization in relation to subject-specific oversight organizations within the Defence portfolio.”

As discussed, and with your agreement, we are proceeding with an independent review led by a qualified subject matter expert with extensive Ombudsman experience. This expert will report directly to you, ensuring the independence and integrity of the process.

I have recently engaged with a nationally and internationally recognized Provincial Legislative Ombudsman who has expressed interest in conducting the review. Additionally, I have initiated discussions with the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI), which has shown interest in validating the review. This engagement aligns with Justice Fish’s recommendation to consider international best practices and may also open the door to formal recognition of our Office by a globally respected institution.

I appreciate your support for this approach and your understanding of the time required to implement this recommendation thoughtfully and effectively. I am currently consulting with departmental officials to identify the most efficient mechanism to engage the expert and ensure a rigorous, research-based evaluation.  Depending on the mechanism chosen, I will reach out directly to the Deputy Minister for any necessary approvals.

I will provide a further update once the review has been formally initiated.

Sincerely,

 

Mario Baril

Ombudsman