From: Barry Westholm 15/11/2012 To: cheryl.gallant.a1@parl.gc.ca, gallac0@parl.gc.ca, gallant.c@parl.gc.ca, cheryl.gallant@parl.gc.

ca

I'm presently on the road throughout the Region meeting with enlisted members with the added intent of (hopefully) providing a conduit for their concerns. My Officer Commanding (OC) was abruptly re-assigned after falling into disafavour and this has caused a shockwave across the Region, if not the Unit itself. He has been replaced with the former OC who is currently wrapping up the re-asssignment of another OC out in B.C. In my 30 + years of service,I have never seen anything quite like it. This action has instilled a type of fear in the ranks which, to me, is unprecedented - it is a fear of doing the right thing. I am trying to rebuild their confidence in the CF by encourging them to use the systems and policies available to them to address their concerns, and in some cases I have engaged those systems first to show they can do so without fear of reprisal. As mentioned in my preceeding email,my efforts so far have not had much impact, and I am exploring other less palatable options. To-date, this has been limited to my engaging the CF Ombudsman (last week), which I believe encouraged a few others to do the s The numbers of our posted-in ill and injured (and supported families) continue to grow, while our staff remains frozen or is in decline. We are also aware of a five-year incubation period for PTSD related cases that is coming our way, but cannot prepare for them - it is strictly a reactionary footing that we must maintain, primarily driven from the lack of a planned capacity for staff growth. The posted-in strength in our Region (Eastern Ontario) is now that of what the entire JPSU (all of Canada) was two years ago. Our staff is struggling and so far kept any tragedies from happening, but it is impossible to track all of your people and provide the required one-one-one time when you have 45 to 70 ill/injured people (each) to support. In a perfect world they say an effective ratio is around 1:9 (leader to subordinates) for very efficient control, say 1:15 is doable, but 1:45 is just crisis management and in some cases our ratio is 1:70. These are not just people either, many have injuries that require The unknown annuitant policy is a driving force in this and no-les than three Section Commander candidates withdrew there applications because of it. Over and above this two experienced Section Commanders put in their resignations and are gone - the uncertaintly of the upcoming policy change is the motivation - nobody knows whats going to happen and are (rightfully) being pro-active in finding secure employment elsewhere. It is not that annuitants are "bailing" but the uncertainty of not knowing any details of any potential annuitant pol

Cheryl, this is more of a venting email than anything and