Although Canadian military families now receive more support than ever, they continue to face serious challenges, including finding suitable housing and health care, and providing healthy environments for their children, according to a new report from the Canadian Forces ombudsman.
A systemic review conducted by the office of ombudsman Pierre Daigle found that frequent moves across the country -- something nearly all military families experience -- disrupt family relationships, finances, continuity of health care, and children鈥檚 education.
All of that has been well documented before, but the ombudsman鈥檚 latest report highlights specific findings, including:
- Deployments of military personnel leave their spouses running the household alone for long periods of time, during which relationships can deteriorate. For instance, children of soldiers were found to experience stress, sleeping problems, 鈥減hysical issues鈥� and troubles at school.
- It鈥檚 very difficult for military spouses to find and keep 鈥渞easonable, gainful鈥� employment due to frequent moves or lack of opportunities in smaller communities where CF members are posted.
- Finding and keeping a family doctor or a specialist is difficult for military families because of repeated relocations. The report notes that, unlike in the U.S., most CF families don鈥檛 receive military medical care.
- Many surveyed families complained about the lack of suitable housing, whether on a military base or in the community where they鈥檝e been posted.
The ombudsman鈥檚 office surveyed 370 families of current or recently-retired regular force members, and visited 10 Canadian Forces bases.
It noted that, much like households across Canada, the modern military family has become 鈥渋ncreasingly complex,鈥� reflecting changing societal norms.
The ombudsman鈥檚 report notes that supporting military families has been a 鈥渢op institutional priority鈥� and that Canadian Forces leadership is committed to their well-being.
However, the report highlights gaps that need to be addressed.
A 鈥渟ignificant portion鈥� of families living in military housing said problems such as mold, asbestos and leaky pipes were 鈥渕ajor鈥� stressors, according to the report.
Of the 12,248 military housing units across the country, only 0.6 per cent are newly constructed.
鈥淭he bulk of existing units were built between 1948 and 1960,鈥� the report states, adding that about 29 per cent of the units are considered to be in poor condition, according to a June 2012 assessment.
The report also highlights concerns with the Home Equity Assistance Program, designed to provide assistance to military families who incur a financial loss when they have sell their home and relocate.
The program provides up to $15,000 in reimbursement, but the ombudsman鈥檚 report says the policy is 鈥渧ague鈥� and the eligibility criteria is so onerous that only two home equity assistance claims have been approved since 2008.
The report also notes that the $15,000 maximum payment has remained the same since 1998, 鈥渄espite a tripling of average real estate values.鈥�
The ombudsman鈥檚 report makes several recommendations to the Canadian Forces, including modernizing military relocation policies and procedures, developing a national employment strategy to assist military spouses and partners, and reviewing the DND housing policy.
Maj.-Gen. David Millar, chief of military personnel, said the army is taking the recommendations and "we're already under way."
A spokesperson for Defence Minister Rob Nicholson said the government 鈥渃ontinues to make military families a priority and we remain committed to working with the Armed Forces to ensure that military families have the tools they need to succeed.鈥�
Daigle said he鈥檒l give the system 鈥渁 year or two鈥� and follow up 鈥渢o see how things are moving."
With files from The Canadian Press
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