Military ombudsman worries for grieving families

Canada's military ombudsman says he's troubled by how the Department of National Defence has treated families mourning the deaths of loved ones who served in uniform. Pierre Daigle spoke at an Ottawa news conference Thursday about DND's handling of families who have lost a military member in combat or off-duty.

Canada has no national policy on dealing with military families, and as a result, those who are grieving often don't get the information or support needed to deal with death, Daigle said.

In some cases, families have waited for years for details about the death of loved ones, a delay that is totally unacceptable, according to the ombudsman.

"It's not very complicated," Daigle said. "All we ask is when a family suffers the loss of a loved one, that we give the family as much information as possible."

"This doesn't cost much. They come to us, they need closure. Give them all they need to know, all they want to know until the board of inquiry is done."

Families should also have the right to formal standing at boards of inquiry that investigate deaths, Daigle said.

The ombudsman has written to Defence Minister Peter MacKay four times about his concerns, and said he hasn't received a satisfying response.

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