Kenney orders health probe release

DND had quietly shelved its data

Defence Minister Jason Kenney has ordered his department to release data it gathered during an internal investigation into the troubled military unit responsible for the care of ill and injured troops.

The Ottawa Citizen revealed Monday that DND had quietly shelved its partially finished investigation into the Joint Personnel Support Unit (JPSU) system, saying it would not release any details until 2017.

The department began the investigation in August 2013 after a storm of criticism over JPSU’s failures.

It is unclear why the military needed four years to complete and release a report on the unit, but according to a spokesperson, the JPSU probe was still only at the preliminary stage.

DND ombudsman Gary Walbourne said two years is too long to wait and late last week asked DND for all the information it has already gathered so his staff can continue the investigation independently without duplicating cost or effort.

Walbourne’s office confirmed late Monday that the minister had ordered his department to hand over the data so ombudsman staff can continue the investigation.

Kenney’s rapid response to avoid a clash with the ombudsman came during a day when Canadian veterans groups began throwing their support behind the Walbourne’s efforts to re-start the investigation.

Canadian Veterans Advocacy President Mike Blais said the prospect of waiting until 2017 for a report on the JPSU system was “ridiculous.”

“Here we go again,” he said. “All these promises from DND for expedient and effective action. People who are part of that unit are dying. Staff are overwhelmed and troops in transition are adrift.”

Blais accused the federal government of “balancing the books on the backs of ill and injured troops.”

“The JPSU concept is cutting edge and world leading,’ added Blais, “but there has been no follow up or true commitment during this era of cutbacks.”

JPSU, now seven years old, is an umbrella unit for 24 Integrated Personnel Support Centres (IPSCs) across Canada and was created to offer programs to support and enable mentally and physically injured troops to resume their military careers or, more realistically, to make a gradual transition into the civilian world with sellable skills.

Critics praise the concept, but say the units are understaffed and the ill and injured often left for long periods without getting access to the help that is supposedly available to them.

Canadian Legion spokesman Ray McInnis said his 300,000-member organization has been tracking the JPSU situation and was intending to raise the issue at a meeting later this summer with new Chief of Military Personnel Major- General Christine Whitecross.

“I’m glad to see Mr. Walbourne is going to keep it on track,” said McInnis. “It’s not an easy work environment but it’s a great model if you resource it properly.”

Montreal veteran and Veterans’ Advocacy director Sylvain Chartrand said Monday that the situation at the units was “very sad.”

“When I talk to members JPSU the story I get a lot is that they are at home doing whatever they want, not being called by for many months or even a year or so in some cases. And yet others who aren’t supposed to work but do so are being closely tracked.

“DND needs to investigate the issues in JPSU and put in the money necessary,” added the Bosnia veteran. “Nobody can argue that members are suffering. Troops deserve the best opportunity to get back on their feet and DND has a moral obligation to do that.

“They serve and they deserve,’ he added. “I’m glad at least that the ombudsman will carry this on. There must be an investigation.”

Ombudsman spokesman Jamie Robertson said ombudsman investigators intend to analyze the DND information gleaned from numerous IPSC/JPSU visits and move quickly to complete a report — likely within six months of getting the DND data.

It’s not an easy work environment but it’s a great model if you resource it properly.