The outgoing military ombudsman is criticizing Ottawa for failing to provide adequate support to families of fallen and injured soldiers, especially those with post-traumatic stress disorder.

In an exclusive interview with CBC News, Yves Côté said his office has dealt with many families who complain of too few answers after a death in Afghanistan or little help after loved ones return home with mental health problems.

"All too often, the system is just 'we'll come to you when we come to you'," Côté said. "Just take the time to show you have a heart as an organization and care about people."

Côté, who has served as ombudsman since 2005 and is now switching gears to become the associate deputy minister of justice, has condemned the military in the past for its relations with soldiers' families.

On Friday, his last day on the job, he said there has been little improvement.

"These people do suffer a lot, and sometimes they tend to be forgotten ... It is our high moral job to look after them and to make sure the right thing is done for them by the government of Canada," he said.

A former member of Canada's elite special operations force told CBC News that while he was serving in Afghanistan, his wife haggled with the military in a dispute over $30,000 in moving expenses.

Brian, who did not want to give his last name, said he returned from his mission and witnessed the toll it took on his wife.

"She had lost a bunch of weight; her skin was grey. She looked sick," he said. "I was making my wife sick because of my job and their lack of support."

He quit the military last July, citing family stress.

"It was the greatest job I've ever had," he said. "It was fantastic, but I love my wife more, and I'm not going to let them treat her like that."

Côté said Ottawa should make sure families are not ignored or lost in the system, as they are "paying a huge price as a result of their dear ones having served Canada in Afghanistan."

He said he is presenting recommendations on how to address such issues in two reports his office is preparing, to be released this spring.

No one from the department of national defence was available for comment.