Set service-medal standards
Petitioners ask the Government of Canada to review and fix delays in service-medal processing by setting service standards and timelines, allocating resources, improving communication with applicants, and reporting corrective actions to the House. The government responds that no systemic delays were found; National Defence will monitor timelines, prioritize urgent cases and improve delivery.
Why we would sign this petition
- Reduces long waits so recipients receive timely recognition, which restores honour and supports morale.
- Public standards, timelines and reporting increase transparency and accountability over medal processing.
- Allocating resources and improving communication would speed processing and help sponsoring organizations and applicants plan.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- The government reports no systemic delays, so a large review or new standards may be unnecessary.
- Allocating staff and funds to medal processing could divert resources from other defence and public‑service priorities.
- Some delays may stem from unavoidable manufacturing, deployment or case complexities; targeted operational fixes might be more efficient.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the Government of Canada Service medals represent the formal recognition of dedication, sacrifice, and service by members of the Canadian Armed Forces, emergency services, and other eligible public servants; The timely presentation of service medals is an important part of honouring recipients, maintaining morale, and recognizing service milestones in a meaningful and respectful manner; Significant and ongoing delays in the processing and issuance of service medals have been reported across Canada, resulting in recipients waiting extended periods—often years—after eligibility has been met; Such delays undermine the intent of the honours and awards system and diminish the significance of ceremonial presentations and recognition events; and Organizations, departments, and volunteer services have raised concerns regarding a lack of transparency, insufficient communication, and limited accountability related to medal processing timelines. We, the undersigned, Citizens and residents of Canada, call upon Clifford Small, Member of Parliament for Central Newfoundland to call upon the Government of Canada to: 1. Conduct a review of the current service medal application, production, and distribution process to identify systemic causes of delay; 2. Establish clear, publicly communicated service standards and turnaround timelines for the issuance of service medals; 3. Allocate sufficient resources to ensure applications are processed in a timely and efficient manner; 4. Improve communication with applicants and sponsoring organizations regarding application status and expected delivery times; and 5. Report findings and corrective actions to the House to ensure transparency and accountability. 1. Conduct a review of the current service medal application, production, and distribution process to identify systemic causes of delay; 2. Establish clear, publicly communicated service standards and turnaround timelines for the issuance of service medals; 3. Allocate sufficient resources to ensure applications are processed in a timely and efficient manner; 4. Improve communication with applicants and sponsoring organizations regarding application status and expected delivery times; and 5. Report findings and corrective actions to the House to ensure transparency and accountability.
Government response
Response by the Minister of National Defence Signed by Sherry Romanado The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of military service medals in honouring the dedication and sacrifices of members of the Canadian Armed Forces. Ensuring that recognition is delivered in a timely and meaningful manner remains a priority for National Defence. The Chancellery of Honours, acting on behalf of the Governor General, is responsible for administering all Canadian honours. Responsibility for military service medals for Canadian Armed Forces personnel has been delegated to the Chief of Military Personnel. Based on current assessments, the process to apply for, produce, and distribute these medals is functioning as intended and meets the needs of the institution. At this time, no systemic causes of delay have been identified within this process. However, timelines for the delivery of medals can vary depending on the medal and service context. For instance, medals related to service in a theatre of operations are normally awarded while the recipient is still in theatre. At times, factors and circumstances, such as maintenance at production sites, can result in short-term delays in manufacturing and delivery of medals. Service medals are issued on a priority basis. Medals and awards for terminally ill members are given the highest priority, followed by requests for personnel currently in theatre. All other requests are processed thereafter in the order in which they are received. Despite these intermittent delays, National Defence remains committed to ensuring that members of the Canadian Armed Forces receive the recognition they have earned. National Defence will continue to monitor medal production timelines and work with partners, including the Chancellery of Honours, to help ensure that honours and awards are delivered efficiently. Additional information on National Defence’s policies and processes for military honours and awards is publicly available on the Government of Canada website.