Audit of the Individual Training and Education System of the Canadian Forces
The Individual Training and Education System allows the Canadian Forces to effectively fulfill its mandate in Canada and abroad and is an essential part of the career path of all military personnel. Respect for official languages under this system is therefore crucial.
Objective
The purpose of the audit was to determine whether military personnel in both language groups have access to training in the official language of their choice, and to ensure that there are no barriers to employment or advancement because of their choice of language of instruction.
Data Collection
The audit began in June 2008 and data were collected between September 2008 and January 2009. During visits in Canadian Forces training establishments and at National Defence Headquarters, the audit team met with more than 600 people, including 250 students, from all elements of the Canadian Forces.
Findings
During the audit, we assessed four major areas related to official languages in the Individual Training and Education System:
- strategic and operational planning
- governance
- recruitment, posting and advancement of military personnel
- second-language training
Our audit showed that the Canadian Forces has still not been able to resolve certain instruction and education issues, which prevents it from being fully compliant with the Official Languages Act. While there have been encouraging signs of change, some long-standing problems still remain.
Main Issues
- Shortcomings in strategic and operational planning make it difficult for the Canadian Forces to effectively evaluate how many courses are needed in both official languages.
- Waiting times are often long for courses in military members’ official language of choice.
- There is a significant shortage of instructors who can give courses in both official languages.
- Official languages are not considered to be an essential component of the Individual Training and Education System management framework.
- The Canadian Forces is not always able to provide teaching materials in both official languages.
- The Canadian Forces has serious difficulties posting military personnel who have completed their training in one language and who wish to continue their career in the same language.
- There are too many senior officers who still do not meet the language requirements of their rank, including commandants of national training establishments.
- Official languages must be taken into consideration when developing new curricula and when establishing performance measures.
- Second-language training needs should be better integrated into Individual Training and Education System planning as well as career management.
To address these issues, the Commissioner of Official Languages has made 20 recommendations to the Canadian Forces. These recommendations are aimed at better integrating official languages into the planning, management and processes related to the Individual Training and Education System.
The Canadian Forces has submitted an action plan to support its commitment to implement the Commissioner’s recommendations. The Office of the Commissioner intends to carry out the necessary follow-up on the various Canadian Forces initiatives.
