Soldiers posted to NDHQ do not go unprepared and they find many there to help them. Nor are they protected from government neglect or simple stupidity. Change in the strategic role of the armed forces during the Cold War, civilianization, and the disconnection of the armed forces from Canadian society have marginalized the military, leaving it vulnerable to government that cannot be held to act in the best interests of the armed forces. In practical terms, this would mean unionization and collective bargaining. He observed that Canadian values are changing, that the confidence of Canadians in the national political leadership and institutions is low, and that the social contract which binds the army and the nation no longer exists.
Politicians pay little heed to their side of the bargain.
One way to bridge the gap would be increase the opportunities for the army to work alongside civilian organizations. Both sides of the divide would come to know and understand eachother better. Dr. Doug Bland, former army officer, now Director of the Defence Management Studies Program at Queen's University, closed the formal presentations with a trenchant discourse on the realities of Canadian civil-military relations. He blamed the military and the public service, rather than the politicians, for mis-managing the defence budget and producing one of the most inefficient forces in the allied camp. They should expect to be surprised by what the politicians expect of them, but also able to respond quickly and effectively.