Latest Stories

Online Portal Launched for Canadians to Share View on Military Colleges

Mishall Rehman June 28, 2024

0 1 minute read

Above image:The Royal Military College of Canada. Photo by: Corporal Brandon James Liddy, RMC Public Affairs.

With the launch of an online consultation portal, Canadians can now share their views on Canada’s two military colleges.

The Canadian Military Colleges Review Board (CMCRB) launched the portal so Canadians can provide input on the board’s mandate.

“Consultation is an important part of our mandate. It would not be feasible for us to meet with everyone who has expressed an interest, which is why we invite any Canadian with perspectives related to our mandate to provide written submissions through this platform. We are committed to considering all the input we receive,” said Kathy Hogarth, Chairperson, Canadian Military Colleges Review Board.

The Consulting with Canadians platform is accessible until Sept. 15.

RMC Saint-Jean was founded in 1952 and was granted independent university status in 2021. It currently offers a bachelor’s degree in International Studies. Image courtesy of RMC Saint-Jean.

CMCRB’s mandate

Canadians are welcome to give their feedback to help shape changes within both the Royal Military College of Canada located in Kingston, ON, and the RMC Saint-Jean located in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.

The feedback specifically relates to CMCRB’s mandate.

According to the Department of National Defence, the mandate includes “reviewing the benefits, costs and advantages to both the Canadian Armed Forces and the nation.”

Specifically, the mandate relates to the continuation of training and educating Canada’s future officers.

This includes:

assessing the quality of education,
different models of delivering education and training to naval and officer cadets and
carving out the future place of Canadian Military Colleges and their viability.

The Canadian Military Colleges Review Board (CMCRB). Clockwise left to right, Mr. Michael Goldbloom, Dr. Martin Maltais, Dr. Renée Légar, Dr. Kathy Hogarth, Chairperson, Colonel Kyle Solomon and Ms. Suneeta Millington.

IECR Report and RMC

In particular, the CMCRB is investigating ways the colleges can adopt recommendations made by Justice Louise Arbour in the Independent External Comprehensive Review (IECR) Report. Released in 2022, the report’s Recommendation 28 and Recommendation 29 relate directly to Canada’s military colleges.

Recommendation 28 concerns the Cadet Wing and assessing whether its responsibility and authority command structure should be eliminated.

Recommendation 29 relates to a larger cultural change within the colleges.

According to DND, the CMCRB has one year to make recommendations on how to make changes according to the IECR report.

To read more about the CMCRB visit here. To give your input or learn more, visit here.