BackA message from Ombudsman Mario Baril on the presentation of his first annual report
It is an honour to present my first Annual Report as Ombudsman for the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces.
Since my appointment in July 2025, my focus has been on meeting and listening to members of the Defence community in Ottawa and across the country, understanding their experiences, and ensuring our office remains a trusted and accessible source of independent oversight. Throughout the year, I have seen a Defence community deeply committed to service, but one that continues to face complex challenges that require both individual support and organizational action.
This year marked an important milestone with the addition of the Canadian Coast Guard to our mandate. We have begun engaging with Coast Guard personnel and leadership to raise awareness of our services and better understand the issues affecting this new constituent group. We also remained committed to helping members of the Defence community resolve individual concerns while identifying systemic issues that require leadership attention.
The record number of new complaint files opened this year reflects both the pressures facing our constituents and their trust in our office. Every complaint represents a person seeking answers, fairness or help in navigating complex systems. Through this work wegainvaluable insight into the lived experiences of those we serve and the challenges affecting the broader Defence community.
A key achievement was the publication of Marking Time: A Decade of Stalled Progress for the Primary Reserve. The review confirmed that many of the long-standing barriers identified nearly a decade ago, in our previous reports, remain unresolved, reinforcing the need for sustained action to improve fairness, access to benefits, and support services for ill and injured Reservists.
As the Canadian Armed Forces advances its modernization agenda, the pace of institutional change and decision-making continues to accelerate. This evolving environment also requires the Office to adapt. Formal investigations will always remain an important part of our work. However, in an environment of accelerated change, there is increasing value in complementing our investigative work with timely observations, analysis of emerging issues, and ongoing feedback. Building on this work allows us to identify concerns earlier and provide decision‑makers with insights that support continuous improvement and informed action.
Looking ahead, maintaining and enhancing the independence of the Office will remain a strategic priority. As the institution evolves to meet new operational, organizational, and cultural challenges, strong independent oversight will be more important than ever. Trust, transparency, and confidence in our objectivity and impartiality are the foundation of our effectiveness. Our constituents have made it clear that independence is essential to the credibility of our mandate.
Following 28 years of operation, the Office has an opportunity to modernize its governance framework and align it with recognized international best practices for independent oversight bodies. Doing so would strengthen our ability to carry out our mandate, reinforce stakeholder confidence, and ensure the Office remains a trusted source of accountability, fairness, and insight for the Defence community and Canadians.
Thank you to everyone who engaged with us. Your experiences inform our work every day. Our commitment to you remains unchanged: to ensure you are treated fairly, respectfully, and with dignity.
Finally, I would like to thank our dedicated staff for their professionalism, commitment and hard work throughout the year. The work you do makes a difference in the lives of our constituents.
We will continue to serve the Defence community. Never hesitate to contact us. We are here to help.
Source: Office of the National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces Ombudsman
