Evidence of meeting #4 for National Defence in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was ombudsperson.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Ombudsman, National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces Ombudsman
It’s a little early for me to answer that question, because I haven’t been out in the field yet. However, since you bring it up, I will certainly look into it when I get back to my office.
Liberal
Tim Watchorn Liberal Les Pays-d'en-Haut, QC
In your previous experience as an ombudsperson in other departments or offices, have you observed the existence of such barriers?
Ombudsman, National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces Ombudsman
No, that has not been the case.
Liberal
Tim Watchorn Liberal Les Pays-d'en-Haut, QC
I have one last question for you.
As indicated in the 2024–2025 annual report, a report on the systemic review of the Reserve Force should be completed soon.
What prompted the office of the ombudsperson to conduct this review? What are the main topics and concerns that were examined?
Perhaps Ms. Hynes could answer that question, since you were not there, Mr. Baril.
Director General, Operations, National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces Ombudsman
Thanks for your question.
As we mentioned earlier, we follow up on our reports year over year to see if the department or the Canadian Armed Forces has made progress in terms of implementing the recommendations that they have accepted. For the two reports we did in 2016, all of the recommendations we made were accepted by the department, yet we have seen very little movement in terms of their implementation.
Rather than continuing to follow up and show the public that there hasn't been very much movement in terms of implementation, we decided to try something different. What we did this time was, instead of just saying, “Here are the recommendations. Yes, they were accepted and, no, they have not been implemented,” we went back and asked, “Can you tell us what the barriers have been?”
Everyone agrees that all of these recommendations are still valid, they're still relevant today and they should still be implemented, but what has prevented the implementation of these recommendations over the past decade? The report is really focused on what those barriers have been so that we can try to unblock or find a way to mitigate them and to implement. Most of the recommendations in both of those reports were focused on communication of awareness and access to health care benefits for reserve force members.
Liberal
Tim Watchorn Liberal Les Pays-d'en-Haut, QC
The first examples would be benefits and access to health care. Are these the same five priorities you noted in the previous questions? I assume that’s the case.
You say that’s the case. Okay. Thank you very much.
Mr. Chair, if I still have time, I’ll ask one last question.
What systemic issues are currently affecting recruitment in the Canadian Armed Forces Reserve?
Director General, Operations, National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces Ombudsman
One challenge that remains for recruitment, both on the regular force and the reserve force side, is the delays. There have been some improvements in terms of digitization for recruitment, but we still receive a significant number of complaints about delays in the recruitment process for both the regular force and the reserve force.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Charles Sousa
Thank you.
We are nearing the end of our session here. We have about three minutes left.
It's over to you, Mr. Genius, for two minutes.
September 23rd, 2025 / 4:40 p.m.
Conservative
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
It's good to be here, and seeing you reminds me of all the good work we did together at the government operations committee. I'm sure those are exclusively fond memories for you, Mr. Chair, as they are for me.
Mr. Chair, I'd like to move a motion:
That the committee invite the Minister of National Defence and the Secretary of State (Defence Procurement) to appear before the committee for no less than 1 hour each, within 14 days of the adoption of this motion, in relation to their mandates and NATO defence spending.
I understand that this motion was put on notice previously, and of course it's important for the committee in the furtherance of its mandate to hear from the ministers responsible.
I understand that my colleague, the shadow minister, has more to say on this topic, so I'll leave my comments there on the motion.
Liberal
Conservative
James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'll be quick on this, because I think that when we were putting together business for committee, we moved to bring in the minister but forgot to add the secretary of state; therefore, I want to amend this motion so that it is more relevant.
I'll take out “the Minister of National Defence and”, and we'll change “1 hour each” to just “2 hours”, and “mandates” will become “mandate”. Then it will read, “That the committee invite the Secretary of State (Defence Procurement) to appear before the committee for no less than 2 hours, within 14 days of the adoption of this motion, in relation to their mandate and NATO defence spending.”
Liberal
Sherry Romanado Liberal Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
We already voted on this motion to—
Liberal
Sherry Romanado Liberal Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC
Can I finish, please?
We already voted on a motion to invite the Minister of National Defence. He's scheduled to come, I believe, on October 7 or 9. It's already been agreed upon, so I'm not sure why we're bringing forward another motion that deals with something that's already been scheduled. I'm just getting clarity that the committee has already voted on inviting the minister. He's already coming, so I'm not quite sure why we're having another motion to invite the minister.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Charles Sousa
That point is well taken. My understanding, regardless of the motion put forward, is that it already does exist. You're requesting an amendment to the motion that was already tabled and voted upon.
Conservative
James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB
It takes out “the Minister of National Defence”.
Liberal
Sherry Romanado Liberal Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC
You cannot amend a motion that was already passed and voted on.
Conservative
James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB
No, it was a different motion. There are two separate motions on the minister.
Liberal
Sherry Romanado Liberal Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC
The minister is coming already on NATO and on his main—