Military bases struggling with personnel shortages, internal review finds

The average base has about three-quarters of required personnel actually working, with Canadian Forces Base Halifax flagged as a serious concern with 62 per cent able to work. PHOTO BY POSTMEDIA NEWS FILE

 The result was that the average base has about three-quarters of required personnel actually working, with Canadian Forces Base Halifax flagged as a serious concern with 62 per cent able to work. While the shortages pose a threat to military operations and other activities, the reviewers also found shortages create a «cycle in work fatigue». That in turn hurts the military’s ability to recruit and retain troops, which has been flagged as a concern for the Canadian Armed Forces in the past, and undermines its claim to be a positive workplace. «Traditionally, the CAF utilizes base postings to provide an opportunity for a less stressful and more stable work environment enabling CAF members to reconnect with their families,» the reviewers wrote.

«Interviewees stated that the base personnel shortage and resulting increase in workload and stress have negative effects on the quality of life». In a statement to The Canadian Press, Defence Department spokesman Daniel Le Bouthillier said bases continue to provide the necessary support to military operations and activities despite the shortages. «There are however activities already underway to address the shortages identified,» he added. «Leadership continues to work on prioritizing the staffing of key positions to minimize the impacts on bases and wings».

The reviewers also found a disconnect between the more than a dozen military bases scattered across the country and National Defence Headquarters in terms of managing base infrastructure. Base commanders were specifically found to «have influence but no control» over infrastructure decisions. «Due to different priorities, this division of authorities can lead to challenges in resolving safety and environmental issues involving infrastructure,» the report reads. Nearly one-quarter of requests for help or other support from military bases since that time were unresolved after 180 days, the report found.

Source: Lee Berthiaume | The Canadian Press