Well, obviously I can only talk about the health care requirement. I guess in DND and the CF all the expertise for health care management and leadership and organization is within the health services.
In my ideal world, it would be wonderful if the leadership said to me that this is the outcome they want, the level of service they expect health services to deliver to the Canadian Forces both in operations and at home, and they gave me the resources needed for that. Of course, there would have to be some discussion about that, but once it's decided, it is simple for them to tell me to execute that and then hold me, the surgeon general, accountable. Once that determination is made, it is up to me to hire for the position.
Let's go back to the case of mental health. There were some 440 positions that were approved and funded. Logically if they're approved and funded, then I should be able to hire people to fill those positions. However, even after they are approved and funded, each position has to have documentation submitted to the public service system, the CMP, chief of military personnel, system, to the DM, deputy minister, system. There are many levels of review where they say yes or no, and it takes time. It's somewhat illogical. Once the positions are approved and funded, why doesn't the system let me hire those people with minimum bureaucracy and then hold the system, vis-à-vis the surgeon general, accountable as to whether I have been able to deliver what I've been told to deliver?
The intent is clear. There has never been an issue about the intent from either the minister or the CDS. Their intent to me was clear: this is what we want you to do.
I went to the PMB, program management board, each year and said what the intent was, what I needed, and what we needed to do. Each time the PMB said, “Here are the resources you requested”. Then I turn around to the bureaucracy and the machinery and I try to hire those people, and it comes to a grinding halt. The year end comes, and I can't spend the money.
As I said and continue to say, I'm optimistic, but I'm somewhat cautious whether this additional money that has been given can actually be spent.