Canadian troops in Poland face delays in reimbursement for food, travel
As part of Operation Unifier, Defence Minister Anita Anada sent approximately 1000 Canadian Armed Forces members to train Ukrainian military personnel in Poland last October, with more arriving in February and March.
Canadian troops stationed in Poland are not being reimbursed for the food they purchase, causing hardships for their families back home.
As part of Operation Unifier, Defence Minister Anita Anada sent approximately 1000 Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members to train Ukrainian military personnel in Poland last October, with more arriving in February and March.
They provide training in basic and advanced engineering skills, using explosives for demolition work, and demining and abilities relating to using and operating the Leopard 2 tanks in combat.
However, Canada did not send military cooks on the mission. Instead, they received meals from the Polish military and orders to eat at local restaurants.
Due to a massive backlog of reimbursing soldiers, some soldiers have accumulated thousands of dollars in debt. Their families complained about the situation that is causing financial stress at home.
The military plans to cut the cost-of-living allowance for thousands of our brave men and women in uniform.
— Alex Dhaliwal (@westcdnfirst) March 30, 2023
In July, 7,700 members will officially be cut off because Justin Trudeau believes they are asking for more than Canada can afford right now.https://t.co/st4iYf9bAM
Food bills racked up without reimbursement, forcing families to rely on their savings to help finance their loved ones in Poland. CAF confirmed Monday they had problems reimbursing expenses monthly, pledging to expedite the process.
"We apologize to the members and their families for the distress this has caused and thank them for their patience," said Capt. Nicolas Plourde-Fleury, spokesman for Canadian Joint Operations Command (CJOC). "We want them to know we have implemented measures to support them better moving forward."
"Additional administrative staff were deployed in January 2023 and have been hard at work to clear the backlog and provide ongoing support to Op UNIFIER's members," he explained.
Plourde-Fleury said the Canadian Forces have "taken immediate steps to address" the backlog.
"The deployment period for financial staff has also been extended to create an overlap with the incoming replacement staff and increase the capacity to clear the backlog."
Canada is donating additional military equipment to Ukraine after officials confirmed they would donate battle tanks and send Canadian Armed Forces to train Ukrainian soldiers.
— Rebel News Québec (@RebelNews_QC) January 30, 2023
MORE: https://t.co/dFcWQlNGkQ pic.twitter.com/5L2b0DM4Cj
He stated they had reduced the backlog and would approve the claims in the coming weeks, including some travel claims submitted by personnel stationed in Poland.
"While we work through the backlog, claims for larger amounts are being processed as priorities to minimize financial hardship for members," he added. "Smaller claims, such as some travel claims, will be processed as soon as possible."
Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre and other Canadian military leaders have repeatedly said that caring for military personnel and their families is essential. CAF faces a high attrition rate citing poor treatment, pay concerns, a lack of housing, and rampant sexual misconduct.
They also plan to cut the cost-of-living allowance for thousands of troops with little notice. A mid-March service announcement said about 7,700 military members would not receive its succeeding housing benefit in July.
The Department of National Defence and the Treasury Board quashed a 14-year tit-for-tat by stating their intent to replace the military's existing cost-of-living allowance with a new housing benefit.
Canadian members of Parliament will get their yearly pay raise on April 1, the same day that same government will hike the carbon tax meant to somehow save the planet, and it’s not a sick April Fools Day joke.
— Rebel News Canada (@RebelNews_CA) March 30, 2023
FULL REPORT by @TamaraUgo: https://t.co/QmYV0LugDq
"We're pissing people off," said retired lieutenant-general Guy Thibault, who previously served as vice-chief of the defence staff. "This may be the final straw that pisses them off.
"It's not really about compensation," contends Thibault. "It's just that they're not feeling valued."
To date, Ottawa has donated 200 armoured vehicles as part of a larger $500 million assistance package announced in November, with $406 million in air defence capabilities and an unspecified number of air-defence missiles.
In January, Anand said the need for Canada to aid Ukraine against Russia's invasion shows "the international rules-based order is under threat like it has never been under threat before."
It's expected that all 200 vehicles will be shipped to Ukraine by the summer to transport troops to the front line and assist in medical evacuations.
Canada isn't spending too much on Ukraine, says Pierre Poilievre, but "we need to get results for our money."
— Rebel News Canada (@RebelNews_CA) March 13, 2023
"They spend too much on back office bureaucracy and not enough on frontline military equipment." pic.twitter.com/GRboqU7hFE
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