Good afternoon, Mr. Chair and committee members.
As the chair mentioned, I am here with Major-General Erick Simoneau, chief of staff of professional conduct and culture, who has been leading the charge on our grievance system's modernization; and our judge advocate general, Brigadier-General Rob Holman.
I want to thank you for the opportunity to discuss the modernization of our grievance system, which is part of a broader institution-wide movement to evolve our military.
This effort—ranging from whole‑of‑Canadian Armed Forces initiatives to grassroots work being done aboard ships, at bases and wings and on deployments—is to ensure that our institution meets the expectations of current and future military members and the Canadian public, while upholding their values.
We have to work tirelessly to instill a climate of respect, inclusivity and integrity throughout the organization. I view fitness in the gym as an analogy. You can't go to the gym once and call yourself fit; it has to be a continuous effort. Our efforts to modernize our institution, to change the way that we deal with people and to continue to evolve have to be continuous as well.
This is all firmly embedded within the values and ethical principles laid out in “Canadian Armed Forces Ethos: Trusted to Serve”, which we published in 2022. I'm very proud of it, and it's a foundational document for our military profession, a document that we've shared with numerous allies, to their appreciation.
The Canadian Armed Forces has undertaken a number of broad reforms. Modernizing our grievance and complaint processes is a critical element of this work. For example, the grievance system that we have is still modelled after an industrial-age system in which organizations favoured stability and predictability over responsiveness and timeliness. Those two aspects are required to thrive in the information age. Our intent is to make it easier for members to submit grievances, to make the system more responsive to their concerns and situations, and to resolve their concerns in a timelier way. We've made some significant strides to streamline processes, enhance accessibility and ensure that all members have a fair and impartial avenue to address their grievances.
An example of this work is the digital grievance submission form that was launched two months ago. This form is intended to simplify, standardize and streamline both the submission and resolution processes. Initial reports are good. We're also in the process of establishing a new grievance centre of expertise in the fall of this year. This centre of expertise will allow members and the chain of command to have direct access to grievance experts, providing them with direct support on submitting and adjudicating grievances. Moreover, it will allow us to identify systemic issues across the institution to give us the justification to take rapid action.
However, we're not waiting for perfect solutions to be implemented before we adapt to the new environment. We recently implemented a pilot process to clear the backlog of files in the grievance system. This is a key driver of our grievance transformation efforts. Supported by a diverse multidisciplinary team of military and civilian leaders and policy experts, this pilot project has succeeded in achieving two overarching objectives.
First, it has significantly reduced the number of backlogged grievance files. This work has set in motion the steps required to finalize a substantial number of these files in the coming weeks and months.
Second, we are leveraging the new tools and lessons learned from this pilot process to inform our broader grievance system transformation efforts. This effort at reducing our backlog was led here by General Simoneau, who is prepared to discuss it in more detail. Increasing the use of informal resolutions, direct engagement with policyholders and commanders, and the deployment of new delegated authorities are all elements of the pilot process that can be brought forward to streamline our grievance system and make it timelier and more responsive to individual grievers.
We're working to implement recommendation 10 of the Arbour report, which focuses on prioritizing and fast‑tracking grievances related to sexual misconduct. We expect our response to this recommendation to be fully implemented by the end of this year.
The effectiveness and independence of review bodies like the Military Grievances External Review Committee and the office of the ombudsman are also critical to our work in these areas. They are two bodies I engage with on a regular basis. These independent bodies, among others, provide the necessary review and independent analysis to ensure the continued evolution and improvement of the Canadian Armed Forces. Our goal is to develop solutions that are responsive to the needs of our members and that align with best practices in grievance resolution and organizational excellence. We don't claim to have all the answers. That's why it's so important to reach out to external experts and be open to that advice.
It's imperative that we ensure the well-being of our personnel and address any systemic barriers that hinder their ability to seek redress without fear of reprisal. This includes providing timely and transparent access to grievance decisions while also protecting personal information. We are committed to further modernizing the grievance system and care for our people. Our operational effectiveness is based on teamwork and cohesion. They in turn are predicated on trust—trust in a system that will look after them. Given the deteriorating security situation around the world, this trust is imperative. We must continue to move forward and pull ourselves into the information age.
I'll change gears and talk a bit about you. I want to express my sincere gratitude to the members of this committee for your unwavering dedication and commitment to the rigorous oversight of matters concerning the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces. As I stand before you today, I recognize the privilege it has been to contribute to your important work. Your steadfast professionalism, thorough examination of legislation and diligent scrutiny of policies and programs have undoubtedly strengthened our national defence capabilities.
I've said often that a pillar of military professionalism in a democracy is its subservience to duly elected civilian rule. It's a pillar we must continually remind ourselves of and it's a pillar we must all embrace. You help maintain that imperative, so thank you.
Now, as the chair said, this is likely—maybe not, but likely—my last appearance before this committee. I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation for the invaluable opportunity to collaborate in the service of this country. I have full confidence in the continued excellence of this committee's endeavours and full confidence in whoever the government selects to come in behind me to provide the same level of engagement with you. I extend my best wishes and wish you all the best in your future endeavours.
In the twilight of my career, as I mentioned to a group of young students at lunch in my second speech of the day—I think this is my fourth—which included a group of young officer cadets, I know that this is an institution on the upswing. Despite all the challenges, with the dark clouds on the horizon and the deteriorating security situation we face around the world, I am confident that this institution is on the right path. As I told that new generation of leaders, I am envious. I am envious of the challenges they're going to face, because this is about the journey. I would do it all over again.
Thank you for your unwavering commitment to the safety and security of Canada. I look forward to your questions.