National Defence committee  It got worse. As an ombudsman, part of your role is to advise the minister and seek guidance on files that cannot be solved at the lower level. You have to go to the minister with issues, and sadly, a few of them are at the end of their life. If you can't get to the minister and

National Defence committee  I think part of the ombudsman's role is to make sure he's educating all communities about what's going on so they can seek help, input and assistance to help move the portfolio forward.

National Defence committee  Since it's about access, I'll give it to you, Patrick.

National Defence committee  There are two areas of restriction that really bear down on the ombudsman's office. One is financial control. The other one is human resource control. It was ludicrous behaviour. It got to a point where I wanted to travel as the ombudsman and had to get approval to do that. It w

National Defence committee  A lot of what the ombudsman does goes unsung. We don't see everything. During my tenure—I was there for four and a half years—we handled approximately 10,000 personal cases, with a one hundred per cent success rate in getting those people to where they wanted to be. I think tha

National Defence committee  Good afternoon. Thank you, Mr. Chair, for the opportunity to be here today to comment on this very important matter. It's been a while since I left the position of ombudsman. However, I remain in contact with the defence community, including veterans, on a daily basis. I am dis

National Defence committee  Well, you're asking me to do an organizational structure on Zoom. There are many ways it can go. I firmly believe that until we get the entity out from under the boot-heel of the department, nothing is going to change. Once that's done—and who that entity reports in to—maybe th

National Defence committee  They do.

National Defence committee  I've said it and I'll say it again: I think what needs to happen is that members of the Canadian Armed Forces, those who get up every morning to serve this country, need to know that there is an entity outside the chain of command that can deal with their issues. We can talk ab

National Defence committee  Well, you know, I'm sure if the minister went away and thought about it, and called back and said, “You know, Gary, I think you've given me enough. I'm going to launch an investigation”, then, as I said earlier to the other member, I would have gone back to the complainant and se

National Defence committee  It is always difficult to strike that right balance to protect the victim and advance the program. I think it will go back.... The only way I can respond to your question is by saying that as long as it stays in its current structure, I just don't think it's going to get us there

National Defence committee  Yes, and it's the same characterization we get from most who approach. They want to talk first about the assurances of what is going to protect them.

National Defence committee  No.

National Defence committee  No.

National Defence committee  As far as I know, no.