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Ombudsman backs families’ demands for death info

The Canadian Forces ombudsman is ripping into the government and military, saying it’s “inexcusable” that grieving families continue to be refused information about the death of their loved ones in the service.
Pierre Daigle
Pierre Daigle

OTTAWA — The Canadian Forces ombudsman is ripping into the government and military, saying it’s “inexcusable” that grieving families continue to be refused information about the death of their loved ones in the service.

Pierre Daigle said that despite raising the issue repeatedly with Defence Minister Peter MacKay and the military bureaucracy, nothing has been done to address families’ concerns.

“All they ask: ’Tell me what happened?’ Give them as much information as possible so they can get on with their lives,” he told a news conference Thursday.

Daigle has specifically raised the concerns of six military families who have lost husbands, fathers and sons dating back to 2003. But he said his travels to military bases across Canada have helped him identify other families who are suffering in silence.

“Families should not have to come to Ottawa and plead their cases publicly before the institution will listen to them and act on their concerns,” Daigle said.

He said he’s been repeatedly assured that military families are a priority, yet nothing changes. Fixing the problem would cost nothing, he added.

Daigle has proposed that the Forces give families formal standing at boards of inquiry set up to investigate deaths or serious injuries, or simply allow the families to sit in on the hearings.

The key, he said, is to continuously keep in contact with the families and provide as much information as possible until all the boards of inquiry are completed.

“There’s nothing complicated here. It’s a human factor, it’s a human issue. The family lost someone so you take care of the family.”

The Harper government positions itself as a strong supporter of the Canadian Forces, and the prime minister and MacKay frequently use troops as a backdrop at photo-ops.

MacKay was quick to issue a statement in response to Daigle’s renewed complaints.

“I consider the care and compassion of CF families to be of utmost importance in my position and to the Canadian Forces,” the statement read.

“We will always do everything we can to provide the families of the defence community the support they need. I’ve directed my officials to ensure outstanding matters pertaining to these issues are resolved as quickly as possible.”

Almost a year ago, on Dec. 14, 2009, MacKay issued a similar public response to Daigle’s concerns: “The Canadian Forces understands and is fully supportive of the need to provide as much information as possible to the families of our fallen comrades,” MacKay said at the time.

Nothing has changed in the 12 months since then, Daigle said, calling the lack of movement both “inexcusable” and “inconceivable.”

He noted that the Canadian Forces “family covenant” published in September 2008 states: “We pay tribute to the sacrifices of family made in support of Canada.”

“I read what they say. It’s good stuff . . . ” said the ombudsman. “I’ve met with the minister. I write letters again. I’m always hopeful, after so many letters, that things will change. But nothing has.”

It’s not the first damaging allegation of ill treatment of soldiers and military families to air this fall. Veterans Affairs Canada has been under siege for its handling of personnel files of veterans and the compensation regime for wounded veterans and their families.

None of the six military families that has gone public lost their family member in a combat situation, although several of the soldiers had served in Afghanistan. There are suicides among the six.

Daigle said there should be no distinction.

“To be blunt, it’s not important to me if they’ve been killed in action or not. They died serving their country in uniform, wherever they were. What I’m looking after here is families who suffer from that and want to know why — where and why.”