April 5, 2006

Canadian Forces Members who serve in war zones deserve the same priority to enter the federal public service as political staff of federal Cabinet ministers, says Senator Percy Downe.

“As Canada’s military takes on the increasingly difficult task of promoting our country’s security interests at home and abroad, I believe we can do more to reward the men and women who serve in war zones,” the Senator said.

Downe said, “I think most people can agree that the perils of working in politics, be it preparation for question period or preparing talking points, pale in comparison to the dangers of Kandahar and the Sudan.”

Senator Downe has introduced legislation that will amend the Public Service Employment Regulations to permit any Canadian Forces member who has served in a war zone:

• To be entitled, for a period of one year from the day on which the person ceased to be employed by the Forces, to be appointed in priority to all other persons to a position in the Federal Public Service, for which - in the opinion of the Public Service Commission - the person is qualified.

This is identical to the priority already offered to political staff of federal Cabinet ministers, who have worked for three years - and are entitled to be appointed without competition in priority to all others to a position in the Public Service for which they are qualified.

“Given the fact that Canada is asking its military to take on a more active role in the years ahead, I believe that this bill will help to reinforce our commitment to the men and women who serve in war zones,” Senator Downe said.

“I am also confident that my proposed bill is firmly grounded in military precedent,” the Senator said.

• Priority status in the public service was given to veterans of both the First and Second World Wars;
• The Veterans Charter, passed in the Spring of 2005, will permit medically released members of the Canadian Forces to be given priority status in the public service.

At the May 11, 2005 meeting of the Senate National Finance Committee, testimony was presented that the average retirement age of Canadian Forces members is 36.

“Thirty-six is a very young age - and after such service to Canada, I believe we have an obligation to these veterans. In some cases, individual veterans may not want to enter the public service - and in those cases, I think we need to do more to ensure that appropriate levels of targeted transitional assistance are available” continued Downe.

At the same meeting, then Veterans Affairs Minister Albina Guarnieri admitted that current rules limit veterans’ priority to those who were injured.

In response to Senator Downe’s question about extending priority status to veterans, then Minister said “that is something we should explore down the road. This (Veterans’) Charter is what we could negotiate with the Public Service Commission at this point in time. I am open to that idea. What we are presenting here is what was negotiated and what was acceptable at this point in time. My attitude is that this is a living charter. It is malleable and open to improvements down the road.”

Senator Downe said he “appreciated the Minister’s frankness in describing the current situation. In an age of spin, her explanation was forthright - and helped to illuminate both the shortcomings and the potential of the current system.”

Last year, the Federal Government released a long-awaited Defence Policy Statement, which said:

“The Government is committed to enhancing Canada’s ability to contribute to international peace and security and, in particular, restore stability in failed and failing states. Achieving this objective in today’s complex security environment will require, more than ever, a ‘whole of government’ approach to international missions, and bringing together military and civilian resources in a focused and coherent fashion.”

“In my opinion, the bill I am proposing will achieve goals that directly apply to that portion of the Defence Policy Statement,” Senator Downe said.

Public service inclusion of veterans with experience in conflict zones will help bring “together military and civilian resources in a focused and coherent fashion.”

Finally, the Senator underlined further comments in last year’s Defence Policy Statement, which says:

“The Canadian Forces have performed remarkable service on behalf of all Canadians through the decades, but have never been so busy as during the post-Cold War period. In recent years, they have deployed to the four corners of the world, participating in complex and risky missions that have tested their skill, training and equipment.”

“As a country, I believe we have to do more to recognize that ‘remarkable service’ and ensure that these highly trained Canadians have the opportunity to offer more of themselves to public service. Further, most of these individuals have many, many years of productive service before them,” Senator Downe said.

“I believe the bill that I have introduced will go a long way toward meeting the goal of a more modern Canadian Forces and will recognize the longer-term contribution that veterans can make to our country,” concluded Downe.