We, the federal, provincial, and territorial representatives* for the Seamless Canada Steering Committee, met on 24 May 2023, to reconfirm our commitment to alleviating the stressors and strains on military families arising from their relocations across Canada.
We affirm that families are the strength behind the uniform, and by supporting the families of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members, our governments are contributing to the ability of the CAF to conduct operations. We further recognize military families' frequent relocations impact many elements that are essential to a stable and healthy family life, including access to and continuity of healthcare; sustainable employment opportunities for military spouses & partners; the availability of quality, affordable, and appropriate child care; and an educational framework that acknowledges and recognizes credits across provinces and territories.
We acknowledge that by easing these challenges, our jurisdictions -- from coast to coast to coast -- help make military life more manageable, thus contributing to the recruitment and retention of CAF members and the ultimate strength of the CAF. In line with our current focus on spousal/partner employment, we applaud Alberta's inauguration into the Military Spousal Employment Network, and commend the other provinces exploring possibilities to further leverage the talent and skills of military spouses & partners in their own jurisdictions.
As representatives of Canada's provinces and territories, we express support for the efforts of the Council of Ministers of Education and its review of education barriers for students relocating between jurisdictions, and the upcoming renewal of its Student Transfer Guide, which will help students integrate into education systems across the country.
Our jurisdictions recognize that this year has been important in the institutionalization of Seamless Canada, which has seen the establishment of a provincial co-chair - a tangible demonstration of the collaborative spirit between federal, provincial and territorial governments that defines this initiative. This year has also been significant in the ratification of the Terms of Reference as well as the adoption of a governance structure. These have helped create both a firmer foundation as well as a roadmap toward future successes.
We thank the province of New Brunswick and 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown for being such gracious hosts. We look forward to reconvening, and to continue strengthening federal, provincial and territorial collaboration to improve the relocation experience of CAF members.**
* Quebec participates in the meetings solely as a means to exchange good practices
** Alberta is operating in a caretaker period due to a provincial election; officials from Alberta participated as observers
