Response from the Minister of National Defence on Outstanding Recommendations Involving Unfair Deductions from SISIP Payments

3 June 2007

Mr. Yves Côté
Ombudsman
National Defence and Canadian Forces
100 Metcalfe Street, 12th Floor
Ottawa, ON K1P 5M1
 

Dear Mr. Côté:

I am writing in response to your letter of March 6, 2007 concerning two outstanding recommendations from your special report Unfair Deductions From SISIP Payments to Former CF Members.

In our meeting shortly after I received your letter, I explained that because of the shear magnitude and complexity of this issue I would ask Departmental authorities to review your concerns.

I also noted that I would not be able to respond by 30 April 2007, as you had requested, because of an impending legal challenge against the Department.

On March 15, 2007, the Federal Court in Halifax received a class action lawsuit filed by Mr. Dennis Manuge on behalf of SISIP claimants, challenging the Long Term Disability Insurance Program offered to CF members through SISIP. As such, because this matter is now pending before the courts, I am, unfortunately, precluded from making any further comments at this time.

Thank you for writing.

Sincerely,
 

The Honourable Gordon J. O’Connor, PC, MP