The Canadian Forces Grievance Process: Making It Right for Those Who Serve

May 2010

Canadian Forces members are not like other government employees. They cannot form unions. Courts have confirmed that there is no legally enforceable employment contract between the Crown and Canadian Forces members. Courts have held that, due to the nature of their relationship, Canadian Forces members do not have the same range of legal remedies that are available to most Canadians in normal employment relationships. However, Canadian Forces members do have access to a mechanism to challenge decisions or actions that they feel are unfair, and that is the Canadian Forces grievance process.