NDDN Committee Report

COMPETITIVE BLOC QUÉBÉCOIS REPORT

Regarding the Defence Committee report entitled Lack of Housing Availability on or Near Bases for Canadian Armed Forces Members and Their Families and the Challenges Facing Members and Their Families When They Are Required to Move Across the Country

The Bloc Québécois opposes Recommendation 13, which would result in the creation of a nationwide recognition system for the trades of military spouses. By proceeding in this way, the government would violate the competency of the provinces and Quebec. Furthermore, it would grant preferential treatment to military spouses, allowing them to work within provincial systems of which they are not familiar with the specifics.

The Bloc Québécois questions the necessity of Recommendation 20, as the cessation of all outsourcing of relocation services is a proposal that does not take into account the Canadian Armed Forces' inability to provide the necessary personnel to offer this service themselves. This recommendation also appears to be an easy response to the BGRS scandal, but we believe it is wiser to avoid generalizing the poor quality of work from subcontractors and that it is preferable to assess each situation separately.

Finally, the Bloc Québécois would have liked the report to acknowledge the breakdown of trust between members of the CAF and the military institutions. We believe that CAF members do not feel they can express themselves freely within the military apparatus and that they feel powerless regarding various decisions affecting their careers and families. Therefore, we wish for the government to address this climate of omerta that weighs down the CAF.