Program directory · Military Grievances External Review Committee
Independent review of military grievances
- Program code
- BUZ01 (CFGB)
- Core responsibility
- Independent review of military grievances
- In Departmental Plans
- 2018-19 – 2026-27 · New since an earlier plan
What it does
The Military Grievances External Review Committee (Committee) conducts independent reviews of grievances with due respect to fairness and equity for each individual member of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), regardless of rank or position. It plays a unique role within the military grievance review process because it ensures that the rights of CAF personnel are considered fairly and impartially in the best interests of both parties concerned, thus balancing the rights of the grievor against the legal and operational requirements of the CAF. The Independent Review of Military Grievances program receives and reviews all grievances referred by the Final Authority (FA) to the Committee. The Committee provides written Findings and Recommendations to the FA and to the officer or non-commissioned member who submitted the grievance.
Source: the department's Program Inventory, via GC InfoBase.
History and lineage
First appears in GC InfoBase's actual spending by program in 2018-19. The data does not record when a program was created; it may be older than its first appearance here, which is limited by the sources (program spending starts in 2010-11, Departmental Plans in 2018-19).
| Program | Relation | Years with data | Actual spending over those years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independent review of military grievances | This program | 2018-19 – 2028-29 | $33.8M |
No earlier or later program in the same department has a similar name.
Significant changes in scope and budget
Detected from the data: renames between plans, programs it appears to replace, merge with or split into (matched by name), year-over-year changes in spending of at least 25% and $5M, or in employees of at least 20% and 25 FTEs, linked budget measures, and results indicators added or dropped.
| Year | What changed | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2020-21 | Indicators dropped: Age of grievances that were received more than four months prior and for which Findings and Recommendations have not been issued | Departmental Results Framework (GC InfoBase) |
| 2026-27 | Indicators added: % of Findings and Recommendations where the Final Authority disagreed on the basis of error in law or fact; % of grievance files assigned to a Committee Member within 45 business days of receipt from the Canadian Armed Forces (service standard); The number of active grievances in the Committee’s caseload requiring a findings and recommendations report | Departmental Results Framework (GC InfoBase) |
| 2026-27 | Indicators dropped: Achievement of a rating by the Final Authority (FA) of at least 4 out of 5 on each of the following attributes related to Findings and Recommendations issued by the Committee: usefulness, clarity, and completeness | Departmental Results Framework (GC InfoBase) |
Success criteria
The program's indicators from its department's Departmental Results Framework: the target set in each year's plan, and the result reported the following year. Source: GC InfoBase.
Historical: targets against results
% of written Findings and Recommendations that are issued within six months of receipt from the Canadian Armed Forces (service standard)
Expected result: Findings and Recommendations on all referred military grievances are provided in a timely manner
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | ≥ 75% | 2019 | 0% At the end of 2017-2018, all grievance files under review were put on hold until a new compliment of Committee Members were appointed. This resulted in a delay of approximately 3 to 4 months in the review of case files. A steep learning curve for new Committee Members and a high turnover for grievance officers meant no F&R were issued within 4 months of receipt of the grievance in 2018-2019. | Not met |
| 2019-20 | ≥ 75% | 2020 | 5.1% Due to a combination of reasons, the Committee currently has a backlog of 250 files. As a result, the average age of a file, before it is assessed, is more often in excess of four months. This working reality is reflected in the statistics reported in the table above. The Committee is aggressively reviewing its business processes and human resource complement with an end goal to optimizing Commit… | Not met |
| 2020-21 | ≥ 75% | 2021 | 16.3% Despite the improvement in this ratio from last year, the average time to review a grievance remains over four months. The Committee currently has a backlog of grievance files and this working reality is reflected in the ratio result. However, it should be noted that the CDS finds the Committee's F&Rs offer vital value to the CAF. | Not met |
| 2021-22 | ≥ 75% | 2022 | 21.7% The Committee has received a high number of referrals. As a result, the average age of a file, before it is assessed, is more often in excess of four months. This working reality is reflected in the table above. Notwithstanding the current challenges, it should be noted that the CDS finds the Committee’s F&R reports offer vital value to the CAF. The Operations Branch was able to process grievance… | Not met |
| 2022-23 | ≥ 75% | 2023 | 5.6% The Committee continues to experience difficulty meeting its service standard of delivering 75% of F&R reports within four months of receipt, due primarily to the high number of grievance file referrals received this year, as well as the key shortage of appointed Committee Members and experienced Operations staff. As a result, the average age of a file is typically in excess of four months before… | Not met |
| 2023-24 | ≥ 75% | 2024 | 1.5% The Committee’s target was beyond reach in 2023-24 due to a number of circumstances. For a second year, our results were affected by a shortage of Committee Members and experienced Operations staff. In addition, the high number of grievance files referrals this year again made it impossible to meet the service standard. The lack of Committee Members resulted in a delay in assigning files. Regardl… | Not met |
| 2024-25 | ≥ 75% | 2025 | 2.5% The Committee’s target was beyond reach in 2024-25. However, the Committee still issued 241 F&R reports in 2024-25, its highest output over the last 3 fiscal periods. The MGERC was still feeling the effects of a Committee Member shortage over a 2-year period which was rectified in 2024-25. The high number of grievance file referrals made it difficult to meet the service standard. Regardless, the… | Not met |
Achievement of a rating by the Final Authority (FA) of at least 4 out of 5 on each of the following attributes related to Findings and Recommendations issued by the Committee: usefulness, clarity, and completeness
Expected result: The Committee provides Findings and Recommendations to the Final Authority (FA) that are clear, complete, and useful in the military grievances decision-making process
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | A cumulative minimum average of 4 out of 5 for each attribute | 2019 | 5 out of 5 achieved for all three attributes. | Met |
| 2019-20 | A cumulative minimum average of 4 out of 5 for each attribute | 2020 | Usefulness: 4.96/5; Clarity: 5/5; Completeness: 4.91/5 | Met |
| 2020-21 | A cumulative minimum average of 4 out of 5 for each attribute. | 2021 | Usefulness: 4.94/5 Clarity: 5/5 Completeness 5/5 | Met |
| 2021-22 | A cumulative minimum average of 4 out of 5 for each attribute. | 2022 | Usefulness: 4.27/5 Clarity: 4.27/5 Completeness: 4.26/5 The Committee has received a high number of referrals. As a result, the average age of a file, before it is assessed, is more often in excess of four months. This working reality is reflected in the table above. Notwithstanding the current challenges, it should be noted that the CDS finds the Committee’s F&R reports offer vital value to the CAF. The Operations Branch was able to process grievance… | No result reported |
| 2022-23 | A cumulative minimum average of 4 out of 5 for each attribute. | 2023 | Usefulness: 4.15/5 Clarity: 4.15/5 Completeness: 4.15/5 | Met |
| 2023-24 | A cumulative minimum average of 4 out of 5 for each attribute. | 2024 | Usefulness: 5/5 Clarity: 5/5 Completeness: 5/5 Despite the vacancies of GIC appointed Committee Members and the time and effort required to recruit more Operations team members, the Committee issued 200 F&R reports. Throughout challenging circumstances, the Committee maintained the thoroughness of its independent analysis and delivery of fair and impartial F&R reports. Although there were delays in completing grievance reviews, this performan… | Met |
| 2024-25 | A cumulative minimum average of 4 out of 5 for each attribute. | 2025 | 2024–25: no surveys returned during period Usefulness: n/a Clarity: n/a Completeness: n/a In 2024-25, the MGERC received no FA rating scores. This lack of scores fell outside MGERC’s control, but it did get written feedback on each FA decision, which it used to determine if the FA found our F&R reports useful, clear and complete. Having said that, the Committee maintained its thorough independent analysis and fair, impartial reports. Also, past scores confirm the FA considers our work… | No result reported |
Age of grievances that were received more than four months prior and for which Findings and Recommendations have not been issued
Expected result: Findings and Recommendations on all referred military grievances are provided in a timely manner
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | ≥ 75% | 2019 | 59.2% At the end of 2017-2018, all grievance files under review were put on hold until a new compliment of Committee Members were appointed. This resulted in a delay of approximately 3 to 4 months in the review of case files. A steep learning curve for new Committee Members and a high turnover for grievance officers meant no F&R were issued within 4 months of receipt of the grievance in 2018-2019. | Not met |
| 2019-20 | ≥ 75% | 2020 | 26.2% Due to a combination of reasons, the Committee currently has a backlog of 250 files. As a result, the average age of a file, before it is assessed, is more often in excess of four months. This working reality is reflected in the statistics reported in the table above. The Committee is aggressively reviewing its business processes and human resource complement with an end goal to optimizing Commit… | Not met |
Current: the 2026-27 plan's targets
% of Findings and Recommendations where the Final Authority disagreed on the basis of error in law or fact
Expected result: The Final Authority is able to rely on the Committee’s Findings and Recommendations in the military grievances decision-making process
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | 0% – 1% | 2027 | — | Planned |
% of grievance files assigned to a Committee Member within 45 business days of receipt from the Canadian Armed Forces (service standard)
Expected result: The Committee effectively manages its caseload
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | 75% – 100% | 2027 | — | Planned |
% of written Findings and Recommendations that are issued within six months of receipt from the Canadian Armed Forces (service standard)
Expected result: Findings and Recommendations on all referred military grievances are provided in a timely manner
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | 75% – 100% | 2027 | — | Planned |
The number of active grievances in the Committee’s caseload requiring a findings and recommendations report
Expected result: The Committee effectively manages its caseload
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | 0 – 299 | 2027 | — | Planned |
Future goals: targets due after 2026-27
No targets with a later due date.
Spending and employees: planned against actual
Spending
Show the numbers
| Fiscal year | Planned | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | $4.5M | $4.1M |
| 2019-20 | $4.4M | $4.2M |
| 2020-21 | $4.5M | $5M |
| 2021-22 | $4.6M | $4.8M |
| 2022-23 | $4.7M | $4.7M |
| 2023-24 | $5M | $5.2M |
| 2024-25 | $5.8M | $5.9M |
| 2025-26 | $6.1M | — |
| 2026-27 | $6M | — |
| 2027-28 | $6.5M* | — |
| 2028-29 | $5.5M* | — |
Employees (FTEs)
Show the numbers
| Fiscal year | Planned | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | 35 | 27 |
| 2019-20 | 34 | 30 |
| 2020-21 | 35 | 34 |
| 2021-22 | 38 | 34 |
| 2022-23 | 36 | 33 |
| 2023-24 | 37 | 33 |
| 2024-25 | 42 | 37 |
| 2025-26 | 39 | — |
| 2026-27 | 39 | — |
| 2027-28 | 37* | — |
| 2028-29 | 37* | — |
Planned spending, plan by plan
Each row is one year's Departmental Plan and its forecast for the next three fiscal years; read a column down to see how the forecast for one year changed. The last row is what was actually spent. Click an amount for its source. Biggest changes in federal spending plans
| Plan | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | 2026-27 | 2027-28 | 2028-29 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 plan | $4,462,539 | $4,462,539 | $4,462,539 | ||||||||
| 2019-20 plan | $4,421,251 | $4,421,251 | $4,421,251 | ||||||||
| 2020-21 plan | $4,474,342 | $4,456,425 | $4,460,864 | ||||||||
| 2021-22 plan | $4,638,896 | $4,544,705 | $4,544,705 | ||||||||
| 2022-23 plan | $4,656,488 | $4,629,499 | $4,629,499 | ||||||||
| 2023-24 plan | $4,989,206 | $4,989,206 | $4,989,206 | ||||||||
| 2024-25 plan | $5,772,916 | $5,797,908 | $5,670,692 | ||||||||
| 2025-26 plan | $6,063,115 | $5,830,105 | $6,455,740 | ||||||||
| 2026-27 plan | $5,980,149 | $6,511,275 | $5,515,010 | ||||||||
| Actual | $4,053,377 | $4,157,427 | $4,978,501 | $4,811,195 | $4,706,492 | $5,221,791 | $5,859,315 |
Actual spending is from Departmental Results Reports and the Public Accounts, as published in GC InfoBase. FTEs are full-time equivalents.
