Posted: May 25, 2021 4:00 AM ET | Last Updated: May 25
Top Defence bureaucrat concedes military didn t truly implement recommendations from misconduct report
Politics News3 hours ago
1:54Canada s deputy minister of National Defence, Jody Thomas, says the military s operation to end sexual misconduct in its ranks lost its way because the government failed to properly implement recommendations from a landmark report into the issue six years ago.1:54
Canada s deputy minister of National Defence says the military s operation to end sexual misconduct in its ranks lost its way because the government failed to properly implement recommendations from a landmark report into the issue six years ago.
Posted: May 14, 2021 4:00 AM ET | Last Updated: May 14
Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan takes part in a news conference on May 7, 2020 in Ottawa.(Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)
A long-promised survey of military sexual assault and misconduct survivors, both serving and retired, is about to be launched by the Department of National Defence â more than six months after Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan said that getting their feedback would be key to enshrining victims rights into Canadian military law.
An internal department document obtained by CBC News shows one version of the survey will be posted on the Defence Wide Area Network (DWAN) â an internal Department of National Defence (DND) computer network used for training â and focuses on collecting statements from those who ve experienced sexual assault and misconduct offences.
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Faced with the intransigent problem of sexual misconduct and sexual violence in the Armed Forces, Canada has turned to a time-honoured tradition: it will commission a report. Cue the collective sigh.
It should be no surprise Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan’s announcement was greeted with frustration. The independent review, by respected former Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour, comes just six years after another independent review, by another respected former Supreme Court justice.
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The earlier Deschamps report was conducted at the request of the former Conservative government, under Stephen Harper. Its final report was delivered six months before Justin Trudeau was sworn in as prime minister.
Phillips said she welcomes Arbour s expanded mandate, including powers to look at the military justice system. However, she noted that many survivors are frustrated that more wasn t done after 2015. I understand when I hear survivors say, You know, enough studies, enough external reviews already, the government has had a clear recommendation and it failed to implement it, she said.
Phillips said the government did not implement Deschamps recommendation to establish an independent body outside the armed forces, to deal with issues of sexual misconduct.