`Despicable decision'

Re: Liberals halt military sex misconduct hearings, April 13

As an ex-cadet of the Royal Military College of Canada and a former member of the Canadian Forces, I am shocked and outraged by the Trudeau government's move to prematurely shut down the House of Commons probe into sexual misconduct in the military. This cowardly and self-serving decision is obviously an act of desperation. It is undoubtedly motivated only by the government's desire to avoid further embarrassment, and suppress any other damning revelations that might well have emerged, had the defence committee been allowed to continue its work and tell the people of Canada what they are entitled to know.

When I was a young cadet in basic training nearly 45 years ago, I remember a major telling us that “when you are in trouble, you have to be prepared to stand up and face the music.” When I look at how the prime minister and the minister of national defence have conducted themselves in the face of the present crisis in the Forces, it seems clear that they have done everything possible to abdicate responsibility for whatever it was that went wrong on their watch.

Our country's impressive military record of accomplishment in both war and peace is something that all Canadians can and should be proud of. The many thousands of men and women who wear our uniform today continue to render service of enormous value to the nation, and they deserve better leadership that what Justin Trudeau and Harjit Sajjan seem to be capable of providing. Shame on the Liberals and the Bloc Québécois for supporting this despicable decision.

Mike Kennedy, Toronto