A review of the way sick and injured Canadian military reservists are compensated has found the process to be “too complex and cumbersome,” as well as unfair in some cases.

On Tuesday, the office of the Canadian Forces Ombudsman released its second report on issues within Canada’s Reserve Force. The report concludes that the Department of National Defence must improve the governance and administration of the compensation system.

Among the report’s findings:

The process of ceasing the employment of an injured or sick reservist is inconsistent. “Without clear direction on how or when to cease employment, some Reservists are being treated unfairly by this inconsistency,” the report says.

The compensation application process is plagued by confusion and delays, which can have “significant financial impacts” on the reservists and their families.

Reservists and military leadership are “often unaware of available compensation options, their roles and responsibilities, policies, and/or procedures.”

The ombudsman’s office is recommending that DND and the Canadian Armed Forces improve the compensation process and “take concrete steps to improve the knowledge and awareness of the compensation options available to ill and injured reservists.”

Ombudsman Gary Walbourne said Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan understands the need to “fix the shortcomings” and has agreed with the recommendations.

In a letter to Walbourne, Sajjan said he will be following up with DND officials “in the coming months” to address the issue.

In another report released last year, the ombudsman found that 30 per cent, or roughly 6,000 reservists, are missing valid medical assessments.