QUESTION PERIOD — National Defence
Canadian Armed Forces--Retention of Members
June 14, 2023
Senator Gold, as you know, all Canadians appreciate the countries who have sent firefighters to combat our out-of-control wildfires. However, many Canadians were surprised that this assistance arrived after Canada, as I have been advised by senior government officials, has — for the first time in the history of our country — put out an international request for help. The lack of in-country resources, and the constant underfunding of our firefighting infrastructure and our Canadian Armed Forces, is coming back to haunt us — and we are reduced to requesting help from others.
Part of the problem in our country is that the Canadian Armed Forces have a recruitment and retention problem. We are currently short 16,000 members on the recruitment side, and departures from the Canadian Armed Forces are higher than they’ve ever been. One of the retention problems that I hear about relates to medical care for the families of Canadian Armed Forces members. When members are transferred from one province to another, their medical coverage continues to be provided by the Canadian Armed Forces, but their family members go to the bottom of provincial waiting lists of thousands and thousands of names.
To improve retention, why won’t the government extend medical coverage to the families of the Canadian Armed Forces members when they are transferred?
Thank you for your question, and for making the important link between the important work that the Canadian Armed Forces do in so many areas and, in particular, the work that they’re doing here to help us deal with historically high levels of devastating wildfires.
The Government of Canada is aware that it has a challenge with both recruitment and retention. It’s been addressed in this chamber on previous occasions, and it’s a matter that is actively being considered. That would include all measures in order to both attract and retain those in the Canadian Armed Forces, or as they change locations within the country.
With regard to your question, I will certainly bring that to the attention of the relevant minister.
Thank you, Senator Gold; I appreciate that. As you know, the shortage of over 16,000 members in our Canadian Armed Forces, combined with various commitments, such as our mission in Latvia and the training currently under way of Ukrainian forces in the United Kingdom, has put Canada — a G7 member and a very rich country — in a position, for the first time in our history, of requesting international assistance to fight wildfires in our country. What an embarrassing situation for a country with such financial resources and a strong military history.
If we’re unable to recruit new members to our Canadian Armed Forces, can the government, at least, try to keep the members that we have by copying what the United States does, whereby military medical coverage is extended to the families of military personnel? If a member of the Canadian Armed Forces is transferred to Prince Edward Island, they will have their medical coverage provided by the Canadian Armed Forces, but their family will be at the bottom of a waiting list of over 30,000 names in a province of 170,000 people. Their chances of finding a family doctor are slim to none.
When will the Government of Canada support military families in order to try to keep the members that we already have, and provide the same level of service that the United States military currently provides to the families of their members?
Again, thank you for your question, and for underlining this important issue. I’ll repeat: The government is engaged with the larger question, and is grateful for whatever assistance can be provided in fighting the wildfires. In that regard, Canada has provided assistance to others, and will be grateful for any help that is forthcoming.
I will make the appropriate inquiries, senator — it’s an important issue. Thank you.
