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This document is unofficial and was prepared by a third party.
This document is not intended as legal advice.
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This document is not intended as legal advice.
Purpose of this Document
This document is written primarily for cadets experiencing difficulties with a decision,act, omission or policy in the Canadian Cadet Organizations (CCO). It is intended toempower young people in the CCO to positively deal with difficulties they face throughthe channels currently available to them.
This documents secondary audiences are Officers, Civilian Instructors, members of the
Leagues, parents and other participants in the CCO. It is hoped that these groups willalso take an interest in the information presented in this document, work to understandit, and share it with cadets. It is incumbent on these groups to attempt to providetruthful, straightforward and accurate guidance to cadets who are experiencingdifficulties in the CCO.
This document is intended for informational purposes only. Although at the time ofwriting, this document should be fully up-to-date, there may be policy specifics whichplay into each situation, and this document should only be taken as general guidance.If legal advice is required, seek out the counsel of a lawyer.
We do hope that this document will provide help to cadets that need it, as well aseducation and information to the secondary audiences. Thank you for taking the timeto learn more about the resolution processes available to cadets.
~ The team at Can Cadets Write Grievances?June 2013
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1. What is a grievance?A grievance is part of a formal process for Canadian Armed Forces
(CAF) members. CAF members are entitled to use the grievance process toexpress displeasure with a decision by a superior. The process can also be
used to express disagreement with Department of National Defence or
Canadian Armed Forces policy.
A grievance is an administrative legal process for Canadian Armed
Forces members. The grievance policy gives CAF members six months
from the time a problem arises to submit a grievance in writing to an
initial authority. Policy requires an initial decision within sixty days of
submission from the initial authority (usually a Commanding Officer,
typically at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel). If the person who writes thegrievance is not satisfied by the response from the initial authority, they
can forward their grievance to the final authority for a second opinion
within ninety days from receiving the initial authoritys decision. The final
authority for Canadian Armed Forces grievances is the office of the Chief
of Defence Staff (CDS). All grievances that are submitted to the final
Initial Action
The Reason for theGrievance
Member has a 6-month
time limit from anevent taking place to
submit a grievance.
60 Days
Following
Submission
Time limit aftersubmission of a
grievance for the initial
authority to give a
decision.
90 Days After
DecisionTime limit after a
person receives the
initial authority
decision. They decide if
they want a secondopinion and if yes,
submit to the "final
authority" (the CDS).
Unlimited
Time limit for the final
authority to give adecision. The final
authority is the office ofthe CDS.
If the member is
dissatisfied with the
decision of the CDS, they
may contact theOmbudsman now or at
any point in the process.They may also choose to
go to the Federal Courtof Canada.
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authority are also reviewed by the Director General Canadian Armed
Forces Grievance Authority (DGCAFGA).
A CAF member may not be satisfied with the decision of the Chief of
Defence Staff. If they are not satisfied, they have the option of escalatingthe issue to the Department of National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces
Ombudsman, or taking the matter to the Federal Court of Canada, usually
with assistance from a lawyer.
The grievance process is a well-defined, multi-step process with the
purpose of providing independent, impartial and fair resolution of CAF
members problems. The process is designed to prevent conflicts of
interest, and allow a procedurally fair review of flawed decisions,improper acts, unfairness, abuse of authority, harassment or omissions by
CAF members superiors. In addition to the grievance process, CAF
members may also make use of a separate harassment complaint and
investigation process.
*See the end of this document to find more information about many of the
organizations discussed in the section above.
2. Can Cadets submit grievances?Cadets cannot submit grievances. No formal process exists for
grievances or other requests for review of a decision, omission, act or
policy written by cadets. Some corps and squadrons across Canada have
invented processes, but no national process exists.
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3. If that is the case, what can cadets do ifthey are hurt by a decision, act, omission
or a policy?Cadets, parents, Civilian
Instructors and members of the
Leagues may submit a Letter
Requesting Review (LRR) to the
Minister of National Defence. Like
the groups listed above, cadets are
civilians. Because cadets areCanadian citizens, they are permitted to directly contact elected officials in
cases where they have been treated unfairly within the cadet program.
They cannot be punished for doing so, as such punishment would violate s.
2(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, in addition to
violating fundamental principles of democracy.
4. Why might a cadet need to submit aLetter Requesting Review (LRR) to theMinister of National Defence?
Like CAF members who must resort to the grievance process, Cadets
can be treated unfairly or poorly by adult staff, acting as agents of the
Federal Government in their role as CAF cadet officers. Cadets can also
disagree with policies in the cadet program. It is important that cadets haveaccess to a process for oversight of decisions made by adult staff or
regional bureaucrats. Cadets invest significant personal time, energy and
effort toward summer training courses, promotions and awards. Selection
of cadets for these limited resources must be done in a procedurally fair
way. This idea of procedural fairness translates to decision-makers being
Cadets are civilians. Because cadets are
civilian Canadian citizens, they are
permitted to directly contact elected
officials in cases where they have been
treated unfairly by leaders.
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able to fully explain how a particular decision was made, and the decision
being made in a legally reasonable way. Put simply, if you are not
selected for something and another cadet is the officer who makes the
decision should be able to tell you why, and the why should make
sense to a reasonable person. Because I said so is not a sufficient response.
Cadets also have electronic and paper files created by officers that
contain personal information, course reports, records of discipline, training
documents and a number of other pieces of information. If a cadet ever
applies to join the Canadian Armed Forces after quitting cadets, this file
may be requested from the cadets former corps or squadron. This is why it
is important to ensure that records
of matters like discipline, training
and performance accurately
demonstrate a cadets attributes. For
example, if a cadet is Returned to
Unit for disciplinary reasons, a
Canadian Armed Forces recruiting
centre may question the reason. It is
important that records are accurate,and any negative placements on a cadets file are done in a procedurally
fair way that follows cadet policy, the best interests of the youth involved,
Canadian law, and the Defence Ethics Programme.
There are a number of reasons why cadets may need to submit a
Letter Requesting Review (LRR) to the Minister of National Defence. The
following section does not list every reason that a cadet may need to
submit a Letter Requesting Review (LRR). However, some examples of
possible situations include:
A less deserving cadet was selected for the Air Cadet FlyingScholarship.
This idea of procedural fairness translates to
decision-makers being able to fully explain how
a particular decision was made, and the
decision being made in a legally reasonable
way. Put simply, if you are not selected for
something and another cadet is the officer
who makes the decision should be able to tell
you why, and the why should make sense
to a reasonable person.
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An officer is refusing to promote me and wont tell me why or giveme a valid reason.
Negative comments were written on my course report that dontreflect my performance.
I didnt get selected for an exchange. A cadet that did get selected isless qualified than me.
A first year staff cadet was given a senior position over me andofficers couldnt tell me why. I was a returning staff cadet with more
courses and experience.
Unfairness at a biathlon ormarksmanship competition
stopped me from going tonationals.
A less experienced or lessqualified cadet was given a
medal over me.
I was returned to unit(RTUd) from summer training and disagree with the reasons.
I was kicked out of cadets for an unfair reason. I was questioned or charged by the military or civilian police at
summer camp, and officers didnt help me or tell my parents. I was
treated like a prisoner, confined to barracks and Returned to Unit.
I am an Aboriginal male cadet and was told I was required to cut myhair in order to remain in the program.
I am being discriminated against because I am gay / lesbian /bisexual / transgender.
I was told to step down from my position or take time off as a cadetbecause I got pregnant.
I was told I could no longer be a cadet because I was charged with alow-level offence (non-sexual/non-violent).
Aboriginal cadets or visible minorities seem to be chronicallyoverlooked for promotions and awards.
Discrimination on the basis of a prohibited
ground under the Charter of Rights and
Freedoms, Canadian Human Rights Act orprovincial Human Rights legislation is a
violation of Canadian law. For more
information on Canadian Human Rights
Commissions, see the help section at the end of
this document.
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The child of our Sponsoring Committee chairperson or CO unfairlyreceives rewards over me.
I experienced an abuse of authorityor abuse of power situation atsummer camp or at my corps / squadron.
I was told I needed to remove religious dress, or I was told I neededto remove my religious dress in order to participate in an activity.
I was told I needed to take time between being a cadet andbecoming a cadet officer, I believe this is discriminatory on the basis
of age.
I experienced abuse or harassment at the hands of cadet leaders. I was bullied by other cadets and nothing was done by leaders to
stop it. I was told I was not able to participate in an activity, attend a course
or be a member of cadets because of a physical, psychological or
mental illness or disability.
5. Should I follow the chain ofcommand and try to solve my problem atlower levels first?
It is often a good idea for cadets to attempt to solve problems at
lower levels before submitting a Letter Requesting Review (LRR) to the
Minister of National Defence. This usually means attempting to have a
discussion with your Commanding Officer explaining your problem and
what you would like to see fixed. As Canadian Armed Forces members,
who technically hold a commission in the military, cadet officers arerequired to make procedurally fair decisions that respect fairness and the
rule of law.*
If a cadet is treated unfairly; or a cadet is not selected for an award,
promotion or other reward, the Commanding Officer should be able to
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explain the reason why, and the explanation should be reasonable. If they
are not able to explain it, or a cadet is not satisfied with the response, a
cadet or their parent always has the right to submit a Letter Requesting
Review (LRR) to the Minister of National Defence.
Some issues are not addressed effectively at lower levels of the
organization. In many situations for example, it is unhelpful (due to
regional barriers and red tape), for cadets to take issues from summer
training centres to their Commanding Officers. Often regional jurisdictions,
impediments to communication, a lack of effective oversight and other
barriers prevent a proper resolution of cadets problems. It is ultimately the
decision of the cadet, but a Letter Requesting Review (LRR) is one option
which allows for a procedurally fair, unbiased process of review for any
decision which has a significant negative impact on a cadet.
*For more on the Canadian Armed Forces approach to administrative law, please
see CAFP A-LG-007-000/AF-010 the Military Administrative Law Manual.
6. I am worried about being punished forspeaking up about my problem.
It is always your decision as to whether or not you want to submit a
Letter Requesting Review (LRR) to the office of the Minister of National
Defence. You should be aware that as a civilian citizen, you always have
the right to go to any elected official in Canada to discuss your concerns.
Because the cadet program falls under the Minister of National Defence, a
Letter Requesting Review (LRR) is
best handled by the Ministers office,but there is nothing preventing your
contacting any federal Member of
Parliament, and you cannot be
punished by the cadet program for
taking this step. Cadets are civilian
Subsection 29(4) of the National
Defence Act prohibits a CAF member
from being penalized or punished for
exercising their right to submit a
grievance.
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Canadian citizens, and have the right to speak directly to elected officials
about any concerns.
You may be interested to know that subsection 29(4) of the National
Defence Act prohibits a CAF member from being penalized or punishedfor exercising the right to submit a grievance. The CAF and Canadian
Government recognize the importance of an independent, impartial and
procedurally fair process for the handling of grievances. You may also be
interested to know that under CAF policy, an initial authority must
provide an assisting officer if a person requests one when writing a
grievance or going through the grievance process. Cadets do not have the
benefit of an assisting officer.
7. Why isnt there a formal policy processsimilar to the Canadian Armed Forcesgrievance process for cadets and CivilianInstructors? Dont these groups need someform of rights-based protection andassistance at times?
We cannot speculate on reasons for the lack of a current process for
cadet grievances. Cadets compete for positions on expensive and
prestigious courses, expeditions, deployments and exchanges around the
world. Additionally, Canadian cadets frequently work to attain promotion
and advancement within the cadet organization by putting in significant
hours and substantial levels of work and dedication (on par withemployment hours). Disappointing, troubling and patently unfair
situations often arise, where cadets do not know where to turn, or how to
get a real answer beyond suck it up.
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When cadets are treated in a procedurally unfair way within the
program, they have the ability to speak directly to any elected official and
cannot be punished for doing so. The Canadian Cadet Organizations are
subject to all government-wide policies, the standards of review that the
Courts have applied to government organizations, and the Canadian
Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
8. How do I write a Letter RequestingReview (LRR) to the Minister of NationalDefence?
A Letter Requesting Review (LRR) should contain enough detail to tell
someone who doesnt know about the cadet program what happened and
why it was a problem for you. It should tell the staff at the office of the
Minister of National Defence what needs to be fixed. You should say how
you experienced a loss, and what you would like to see done to fix that
loss. The requested resolution can include one thing, or a number of
different things, including a statement acknowledging wrongdoing or an
apology. For example:
A less deserving cadet was selected for the Air Cadet FlyingScholarship.
o Possible requested remedy: I want to be guaranteed a spot forthe Air Cadet Flying Scholarship for the upcoming summer.
An officer is refusing to promote me and wont tell me why.o Possible requested remedy: I would like to be promoted, and
for the Commanding Officer to be ordered to practice
procedural fairness in selecting cadets for promotion in the
future.
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I am an Aboriginal male cadet and was told I was required to cut myhair in order to remain in the program.
o Possible requested remedy: I would like this situationinvestigated and the Commanding Officer be told to reasonably
accommodate cultural variances. (Note: A cadet and CAF
policy exists for
Aboriginal male cadets
who wish to wear their
hair long for cultural
reasons. If you believe
you have been
discriminated against onthe basis of race or ethnicity, you may wish to contact the
Canadian Human Rights Commission or a
provincial/territorial Human Rights tribunal).
I didnt get selected for an exchange. A cadet that did get selected isless qualified than me.
o Possible remedy requested: I request to be selected for anexchange during the upcoming summer.
A first year staff cadet was given a senior position over me andofficers couldnt tell me why. I was a returning staff cadet with more
courses and experience.
o Possible remedy requested: I request back pay for a higherranked staff cadet position for the summer.
Unfairness at a competition stopped me from going to nationals.o Possible remedy requested: I request a spot at nationals during
the upcoming competition.
Represent your position professionally.
Clearly explain the problem and how
you would like to see the situation
fixed.
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I was told I needed to remove religious dress or could not participatein an activity due to my religious dress.
o Possible remedy requested: I request this matter beinvestigated. (Note: the cadet organizations are required to
reasonably accommodate religious dress under Canadian
Human Rights legislation, including the Charter. The current
cadet dress policy also allows certain forms of religious dress. If
you feel you have experienced discrimination on the basis of
religion, you may wish to contact the Canadian Human Rights
Commission or a provincial / territorial Human Rights
tribunal).
I was questioned or charged by the military or civilian police atsummer camp, and officers didnt help me or immediately tell my
parents. I was treated like a prisoner, confined to barracks and
Returned to Unit.
o Possible remedy requested: I request the policy be reviewedand a policy be created for cadets who are charged or
questioned by police when away from home under the care of
cadet officers. (Note: if you were confinedto barracks you
may have a civil claim available for false imprisonment
depending on the severity of the circumstances. Include details
in your LRR to the Minister of National Defence.)
A less experienced or less qualified cadet was given a medal over me.o Possible remedy requested: I request that the process for
selection be reviewed, and if found to be improperly carriedout, I be awarded a medal.
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I was returned to unit (RTUd) from summer training and disagreewith the reasons.
o Possible remedy requested: I request that the RTU be struckfrom my record and I be given a pass for the course, badge and
certificate of qualification.
I was kicked out of cadets for an unfair reason.o Possible remedy requested: I request that the reasons for my
dismissal be reviewed and if found to be improper, I be re-
enrolled at the rank of ______.
Aboriginal cadets or minorities seem to be chronically overlooked forpromotions and awards in my corps or squadron.
o Possible remedy requested: I request that the cadet programcollects statistics on economic, racial, ethnic and other factors
when cadets join to determine if the cadet program recruits
minorities and youth from disadvantaged economic
backgrounds and designated minority groups. I request an
investigation of these concerns at my corps / squadron. (Note:
the cadet program does not currently collect statistics on
ethnicity, income or other factors to ensure the cadet program is
representative of the Canadian population.)
I am being discriminated against because I am gay / lesbian /bisexual / transgender.
o Possible remedy requested: I request an investigation. (Note:you can also contact the Canadian Human Rights Commissionor a provincial / territorial Human Rights Commission if the
discrimination is based on prohibited grounds other than and
including those listed).
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I was told to step down from my position or take time off as a cadetbecause I got pregnant.
o Possible remedy requested: I ask that an investigation takeplace. (Note: you can also contact the Canadian Human Rights
Commission or a provincial / territorial Human Rights
Commission if you are discriminated against on the basis of
pregnancy. This is included under sex or gender discrimination
in Canada.)
I was told I could no longer be a cadet because I was charged with alow-level offence (non-sexual/non-violent).
o Possible remedy requested: I request that this matter beinvestigated. (Note: there is currently no national policy
regarding cadets who have been charged with offences. Some
regions have made up their own policies on this matter.)
The child of our Sponsoring Committee chairperson or CO unfairlyreceives rewards over me.
o Possible remedy requested: I ask that an investigation takeplace and if found to be warranted, I am promoted etc. as
appropriate.
I experienced an abuse of authority or abuse of power situation atsummer camp or at my corps / squadron.
o Possible remedy requested: I ask that an investigation beconducted into the behaviour of this officer or officers.
I was told I needed to take time between being a cadet andbecoming an officer, I believe this is discriminatory on the basis of
age.
o Possible remedy requested: I request that this decision bereviewed. If I am an appropriate candidate for the Cadet
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Instructors Cadre (excepting my age), I ask that the CO be
directed to recommend my enrolment. (Note: If you believe
you are being discriminated against on the basis of age, you can
also contact the Canadian Human Rights Commission.
Discrimination on the basis of age is illegal under Canadian
law.)
I experienced abuse or harassment at the hands of cadet leaders.o Possible remedy requested: I ask that an investigation into this
matter be conducted. (Note: if you experience suspected abuse
at the hands of a cadet leader, you are encouraged to contact
the military or civilian police closest to you.)
I was bullied by other cadets and nothing was done by leaders tostop it.
o Possible remedy requested: I ask that an investigation into thismatter be conducted. (Note: if the bullying is criminal
harassment, you are encouraged to contact the military or
civilian police closest to you.)
I was told I was not able to participate in an activity, attend a courseor be a member of cadets because of a physical, psychological or
mental illness or disability.
o Possible remedy requested: I ask that an investigation into thismatter be conducted. (Note: the cadet program and all
government agencies are required to reasonably
accommodate physical, psychological or mental illnesses ordisabilities under Canadian human rights legislation. You are
encouraged to contact the Canadian Human Rights
Commission.)
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A General Note on Writing a Letter Requesting Review (LRR) to the
Minister of National Defence
When writing, be respectful, assertive and represent your position
professionally. It is much easier for someone to understand your point ofview if it is fully explained in a neutral emotional tone (although this is
sometimes easier said than done). It is a good idea to have someone you
trust review your Letter Requesting Review (LRR) prior to sending it to the
office of the Minister. Ask that person to pay attention to the tone of the
Letter Requesting Review (LRR). Avoid the urge to mud-sling. Focus on
the problem rather than the people involved.
If you are involved in a situation that starts to go downhill, be sure tokeep a detailed log of dates, times, meetings and interactions (like phone
calls, emails, etc.) related to your problem.
Remember that the office of the Minister of National Defence receives
hundreds of pieces of mail per day. Although they will take time to
carefully review your Letter Requesting Review (LRR ), the contents of the
letter will likely be forwarded back to your cadet region headquarters for
investigation, then the cadet region will forward their findings back to the
office of the Minister of National Defence for final review and
determination. It is worth repeating when writing, be respectful, assertive
and represent your position professionally.
9. How do I structure a Letter RequestingReview (LRR)?
There is no set format for how you should write a Letter Requesting
Review (LRR) to the Minister of National Defence. Some will be lengthy,
some will be short. Do not get too concerned about using a specific format;
simply remember it is important that a person with little or no knowledge
of the cadet program can read your Letter Requesting Review (LRR) and
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have a basic understanding of the
problem and what you want to make
it right. Write as clearly as you can,
and include as much information as
is required to get your story across.
A good basic structure is the following:
i. A brief description of the decision, act or omission that is the
subject of the Letter Requesting Review (LRR), including all
supporting facts known to the cadet;
ii. A request for determination (adjudication) and a clear statement of
the full redress sought (what the cadet wants to make things right);and
iii. A copy of any substantiating documents (related proof) in the
matter. [For example, a Letter Requesting Review (LRR) regarding a
course report could be forwarded along with a copy of the course
report.]
A different possible way to structure a Letter Requesting Review (LRR) to
the Minister of National Defence is the following. You can use the headingsas they appear below to separate your document into five sections: facts,
issues, policy & analysis, conclusions and resolution.
1. Facts - What happened? Be specific with dates, names and place theevents in a clear timeline from oldest to most recent. Tell the
complete story, for example if you describe something as unfair
remember to explain fully why and how the action was unfair.
2. Issues This is where you can clearly list the major things that areproblems arising from your situation. (Remember, you can also
discuss how policy and regulations are unfair or applied in unfair
ways.) For example:
Be respectful, assertive and represent your
position professionally. It is much easier for
someone to understand your point of view if it
is fully explained in a neutral emotional tone.
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a. Was my misbehaviour serious enough to cause my beingRTUd?
b. Does the fact that I was never counselled on the problems withmy performance make my course report unfair and invalid?
c. Was the behaviour of this Officer an abuse of authority or anabuse of power within the normal meaning of that term?
d. Was the promotion of a less qualified cadet procedurally unfairin these circumstances?
e. Were the rules applied unfairly to me during this competition,preventing my advancement to nationals?
f. Should I be automatically released or suspended from the cadetprogram under policy after being charged with a low-leveloffence?
g. Am I required to take time off from my position at cadetsbecause I got pregnant?
3. Policy and Analysis This section is optional. In it, you may wish todiscuss CATOs (Cadet Administrative and Training Orders),
Canadian law or any other
lower level policy orregulation, including your
corps or squadrons standing
orders. This section discusses
how policy applies to your
facts and issues in the
situation. For instance, if you
were disciplined by being
kicked out of cadets or kicked
out of a position, you could
discuss the CATO on cadet
discipline and how it relates to
your facts.
There is no one definition for procedural
fairness. However, it is generally accepted that
in order to be fair in a legal sense, the common
law rules of natural justice, freedom from bias
on the part of the decision maker and a
meaningful and informed participation by the
person in the proceedings, must be followed
throughout the process.
The principles associated with procedural
fairness can include: the right to counsel,
adequate notice, release of information, the
ability to make submissions, evidentiary
standards and providing reasons for decisions
that are made.
- Excerpt from Canadian Armed Forces
Publication B-GG-005-027/AF-011
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4. Conclusions In this section you should clearly conclude how whathappened is unfair or not in line with law, policy, regulations or not
in line with more vague concepts like procedural fairness. In this
section, you should give your conclusive answer to the questions you
posed in the issues section earlier in your Letter Requesting
Review (LRR).
5. Resolution (Relief Requested) This section should contain a clearstatement of what you want the Minister of National Defence to do in
order to make things right.
10.Why should I submit a LetterRequesting Review (LRR) to the Ministerof National Defence?
You should do what you feel
is right for you in the circumstances.
Remember that leadership, bad
decision-making and poor policy
will not change unless people are
willing to speak out against it. If you
have problems that are not
addressed by the chain of command
within the cadet program, you
should not be afraid of using your
power as a civilian Canadian citizen to draw attention to problems, andmake the cadet program better for all the young people and adults who are
involved. Raising concerns about the cadet organization is something we
should not be afraid to do. In fact, it is a positive process for the cadet
program which results in a better organization for everyone involved.
Leaders think for themselves and provide critique.
Leadership, bad decision-making and
poor policy will not change unless
people are willing to speak out againstit. Raising concerns about the cadet
organization is something we should
not be afraid to do. In fact, it is a
positive process for the cadet program
which results in a better organization
for everyone involved. Leaders think for
themselves and provide critique.
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11.Where can I get more information orhelp with my problem?
Dealing with tough situations in the cadet program can be extremely
stressful and difficult. You may feel helpless, abandoned, angry, fearful,
depressed or upset. Remember to remain calm, mentally strong and
focussed on finding a solution. If you ever need help or guidance, talk to a
trusted adult or a friend about the difficulties you are facing. Remember
that finding long-term solutions is a marathon, not a sprint. It may take
several months to get to the point where you feel your issue has been
resolved and your voice has been heard. Be patient and stay on the rightpath in solving your problems in a positive way.
There are a number of places where you can get help if you are
having a problem, need advice or are looking for general information.
Websites for the offices listed below are easy to find using any major search
engine:
Office of the Minister of National Defence This is the best place tosend a Letter Requesting Review (LRR) related to the cadet program.You can also email or telephone, depending on the complexity of
your problem.
o Letters can be mailed, no postage required to: The Minister of National Defence
Parliament of Canada
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6
Phone: 1-866-599-4999 (You will reach an operator, ask forthe office of the Minister of National Defence.)
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This document is unofficial and was prepared by a third party.
This document is not intended as legal advice.
Canadian Forces Whistleblowing, Submit a Disclosure ofWrongdoing - The term "whistleblowing" refers to the act of calling
attention to a questionable or illicit activity in an attempt to have it
brought to an end. There is a form available on line to disclose
wrongdoing within the CAF / DND. Search Canadian Forces
Whistleblowing Disclosure Form on any major search engine.
Within the Department of National Defence (DND), the term
whistleblowing is referred to as a "disclosure of wrongdoing." When
a Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) member or DND employee becomes
aware of wrongdoing, they have a responsibility to report that
wrongdoing. Public servants can submit a disclosure under the
Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act (PSDPA), while CAFmembers can submit a disclosure using the Canadian Forces
Disclosure Process.
The National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces OmbudsmanThe Office of the Ombudsman was created in 1998 to increase
openness and transparency in the Canadian Armed Forces and the
Department of National Defence, and to ensure the fair treatment of
concerns raised by CAF members, departmental employees and theirfamilies. This office also receives complaints related to the cadet
organizations. There is an online form on the Ombudsmans
website to submit complaints. The Ombudsman helps members of
the Defence community navigate a large and complex organization in
order to access existing channels of assistance or redress when they
have a complaint or concern. The office is also responsible for
reviewing and investigating concerns and complaints from current
and former CAF members, cadets, departmental employees and their
immediate family members who believe that they have been treated
improperly or unfairly by the Department of National Defence or the
CAF.
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This document is unofficial and was prepared by a third party.
This document is not intended as legal advice.
o The office of the DND / CAF Ombudsman also has a toll freetelephone number you can call to get guidance or help with a
course of action for your problem: 1-888-828-3626.
Director General Canadian Forces Grievance Authority (DGCFGA)This website contains a number of resources for preparing a Letter
Requesting Review (LRR). It includes resources for grievance writing
that are applicable and useful to the writing process for a Letter
Requesting Review (LRR). You can also visit their website to learn
more about the CAF grievance process.
Kids Help Phone - 1-800-668-6868. Canada's only toll-free, 24-hour,bilingual and anonymous phone counselling, web counselling andreferral service for children and youth. Every day, professional
counsellors provide support to young people across the country. The
service is completely anonymous and confidential they don't trace
calls, they don't have call display. You don't even have to tell them
your name if you don't want to. This phone call can help with any
emotional or difficult conflict situations, or if you just need someone
to talk to.
Military or Civilian Police If your situation involves suspectedcriminal harassment, abuse, or other illegal acts it is okay to consult
your local civilian or military police for assistance or help.
Provincial Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) or FederalMembers of Parliament (MP) Politicians are your representativesin government and will often be able to provide assistance, advocacy
and support with serious problems related to the cadet program. You
may want to simply send an additional copy of your Letter
Requesting Review (LRR) to the MLA or MP who is responsible for
your area of the country. You can contact any politician and cannot
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This document is unofficial and was prepared by a third party.
This document is not intended as legal advice.
be punished for doing so. No postage is required for letters to federal
Members of Parliament and federal Senators.
Military Grievances External Review Committee (MGERC) -formerly the Canadian Forces Grievance Board (CFGB), is an
independent administrative tribunal reporting to Parliament through
the Minister of National Defence. The MGERC reviews military
grievances referred to it pursuant to s. 29 of the National Defence Act
and provides findings and recommendations to the Chief of the
Defence Staff and the Canadian Armed Forces member who
submitted the grievance. Their website contains a searchable registry
of all CAF grievances currently being reviewed by the MGERC.
Alternative Dispute Resolution: National Defence and theCanadian Armed Forces - Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is
the means by which the Defence Team (the Department of National
Defence (DND) employees, Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Regular
and Reserve members, and the Canadian Cadet Movement) are
provided with the resources to resolve workplace conflicts early,
locally and informally. Individuals experiencing conflict areencouraged to consider using ADR as the first recourse for resolving
the situation. ADR is provided to the Defence Team through a series
of Dispute Resolution Centres (DRCs) that are located at major
defence establishments across the country. DRCs are staffed by
professional ADR practitioners who provide a number of ADR
intervention services, training courses and promotional activities.
Telephone numbers and email addresses can be easily located
through an internet search.
Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) This is the nationaltribunal that hears cases regarding federal government institutions
and their obligations regarding the Canadian Human Rights Act. The
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This document is unofficial and was prepared by a third party.
This document is not intended as legal advice.
majority of cases regarding the cadet program would fall under this
tribunal rather than a provincial / territorial body. However, the
provincial / territorial human rights tribunal websites are also a
useful source of information if you feel you have been discriminated
against under one of the grounds listed in legislation (age,
gender/sex, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, religion,
race/ethnicity, etc).
The Privacy Commissioner of Canada If your privacy has beenviolated in some way related to your complaint regarding the cadet
program, you may wish to make a complaint to the Privacy
Commissioner of Canada. The Privacy Act sets out the rules for thecollection, use and disclosure of personal information by federal
government institutions, including the cadet program. The Privacy
Act gives individuals the right to see any information the
government holds about them (including the information held by the
cadet program), and to request corrections. There is an online form
to request an investigation available on the Privacy Commissioners
website.
The Access to Information Act This is a Canadian act providing theright of access to information under the control of a government
institution. It declares that government information should be
available to the public and that decisions on the disclosure of any
government information should always be reviewed independently
of government departments. You can request any emails or other
documents held by the cadet program containing your name or
regarding any other topic you want to find out more about.
Remember that disclosure is limited by the Privacy Act, so you
cannot request personal information about other Canadian citizens
only non-personal information, or information about yourself. You
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This document is unofficial and was prepared by a third party.
This document is not intended as legal advice.
can use an internet search engine to find Canada Access to
Information Act Request Form.
The Defence Ethics Programme (DEP) This is a is a comprehensivevalues-based ethics programme put in place to meet the needs of the
Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces at
both the individual and the organizational levels. Members are
bound to three main principles governing their actions: (1) respect
the dignity of all persons, (2) serve Canada before self and (3) obey
and support lawful authority. These three principles are organized in
descending order of importance. An understanding of the DEP is
helpful when writing a LRR to the Minister of National Defence. Youmay wish to refer to the ethical obligations of the CAF officers who
are involved in your case.
12. How can I help a cadet who needs tosubmit a Letter Requesting Review (LRR)
to the Minister of National Defence?
Raising concerns about difficult issues is often a troubling experience
for cadets that can involve deeply personal issues and fear of being
perceived as deceptive or insubordinate. The best thing that adult staff and
other leaders can do for cadets who are submitting a Letter Requesting
Review (LRR) is to provide advice, assistance, advocacy and support.
It is also important that adult leaders ensure our cadets are treated
with human respect, dignity, fairness, equitability and in a way that
generally upholds basic principles of procedural fairness a principle
expected in the decision-making and actions of all CAF officers and NCMs,
regardless of branch.
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Please share!
If you are a cadet, parent, league member, sponsor or adult staff
member, you are encouraged to remember this document, download this
document and informally share this document with cadets and staff when they
need the guidance it contains. Consider posting this document as an
unofficial resource on your web page or social media site to tell your cadets
and staff that you uphold procedural fairness and will always attempt to
make leadership decisions that respect this principle and the rule of law.
Thank you for taking the time to read this document and for educating
yourself on the conflict resolution processes available to cadets.