National Defence Committee on Feb. 16th, 2011

[Pierre Daigle]

Maybe I don't understand, because Bill C-41 has a chance. The amendment to the legislation has a chance right now to correct this eight-year-old issue once and for all. If you say you have to find another way, I have some serious concern that it will take some time. I'm convinced that there's no need to do all kinds of modification or restructuring of the Financial Administration Act. Right now the DM, for instance, has the right and the authority to delegate financial authority, and he does so to the CDS, by the way, so he could just add that to this too.

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

In other words, is the end state more important than the vehicle to achieve the desired end state?

[Pierre Daigle]

What is important, Mr. Chair, is that the Chief of the Defence Staff, who is in charge of the control and administration of the Canadian Forces and is the final authority of the grievance process that will take care of unfairness for his troops, have full authority to close grievances with a full remedy in order for the troops to be satisfied. The full remedy sometimes has to entail financial compensation, and that's what the end result is. Give the authority to the CDS to do that.

It's very difficult for troops coming to our office to say, “I do believe in the chain of command, and I understand, sir”—to whatever military—“that you're saying it was unfair, and that you upheld that decision. I'm happy about that, but I've lost $2,000 here, and you're telling me you're going to send me to Afghanistan. The captain beside me will give $10,000 to a farmer over there, and you are the Chief of the Defence Staff; are you telling me you cannot give me $2,000 to close the injustice?” I don't think this is fair.

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Conservative, Maxime Bernier]

Mr. Daigle, thank you for appearing before us on such short notice.

This concludes the 49th meeting of the Standing Committee on National Defence. We will be seeing each other next week.

[Pierre Daigle]

I thank you for having invited me. Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Maxime Bernier]

Thank you.

The meeting is adjourned.