Filing travel expense claims in the Department of National Defence is so complex it takes more than three-and-a-half hours of paperwork per claim, according to an internal audit. Blacklock's Reporter says the process is governed by a 370-page rulebook, which auditors say is often repetitive and difficult to navigate.The Audit Of The Travel Administration Process found both Canadian Armed Forces members and civilian employees typically spend 219 minutes completing paperwork for each travel claim. .“The large amount of guidance documents can be a challenge for users to follow,” it said.“Travel is essential to supporting the delivery of the Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces mandate,” auditors wrote, noting that while policies and tools are in place, the overall process remains heavily manual.Claims require both electronic and paper documentation for review and authorization.A total of $325 million was budgeted for travel last year by military and civilian personnel. That figure was cut by $59 million in 2025, and further reductions are expected as part of government efforts to shift spending toward public programs and services..The report highlighted inefficiencies in the current system, citing the volume and complexity of policies from both the Treasury Board Secretariat and departmental administration. “Some of these documents are repetitive or inconsistent,” it said.The audit echoes concerns raised in a 2017 report by the Blueprint 2020 Internal Red Tape Reduction Tiger Team, which found similar issues across all federal departments.“Filling out a solemn declaration for a $3 bus ticket is not a good use of resources,” the earlier report said, noting one $200 trip required eight signatures for approval.Auditors concluded that with rising transportation and accommodation costs, and ongoing budget pressures, the military must streamline its travel system to ensure efficiency and fiscal responsibility.
