National Post (National Edition)
Almost 1,000 in military were sex-assault victims in past year.
Almost 1,000 personnel from the Canadian Forces said they were victims of sexual assault in the workplace in the past year, according to a new survey that paints a scathing portrait of sexual misconduct in the ranks.
The results of the survey, conducted by Statistics Canada for the Canadian Forces, are sobering, said Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jon Vance.
“Harmful sexual behaviour is a real problem in our institution,” he said at a news conference Monday. “I’m very disappointed.”
The voluntary survey was conducted between April and June. Forty-three thousand personnel from the regular and reserve force responded. The survey determined: In the 12 months preceding the survey, 1.7 per cent or 960 regular force personnel were victims of sexual assault in the military workplace or involving military personnel. The majority of the victims were women.
Unwanted sexual touching was the most common form of sexual assault, reported by 1.5 per cent or 840 regular force personnel.
Seventy-nine per cent of regular forces personnel saw, heard, or were personally targeted by sexualized behaviour in the military workplace or involving military personnel, Department of National Defence employees, or contractors.
The majority of victims, 59 per cent, did not report the incident. The most common reason for not reporting was the incident was informally resolved.
Forty-nine per cent of females who were sexually assaulted in the past year said the perpetrator was either their supervisor or some of the higher ranks.
The survey was prompted by a scathing report last year by former Supreme Court justice Marie Deschamps.
In her April 30, 2015, report, Deschamps found that not only was sexual misconduct “endemic” in the Forces but it was condoned by the military leadership.
NDP Leader Tom Mulcair said in the Commons on Monday he believes the information gathered by Statistics Canada probably is “the tip of the iceberg.”
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan said the Canadian military will do better when it comes to stamping out sexual misconduct.