Keep sexual misconduct unit ‘far’ from military, DND urged

A retired Supreme Court justice on Monday reiterated her calls for an independent centre to deal with sexual misconduct in the military “as far as possible from the Canadian Armed Forces.”

But the senior officer responsible for tackling sexual misconduct in the ranks said it’s too early to say exactly what form any centre will take, as she and her team continue looking at what models and options are available.

“It is my objective to identify a comprehensive option for an independent centre to go forward,” Maj.-Gen. Christine Whitecross said. “And that is something that our group is working diligently on as we speak.”

Whitecross and retired Supreme Court justice Marie Deschamps were appearing before the Commons defence committee. It was Deschamps’s first public appearance since her explosive report on the Canadian military’s sexualized culture was released last month.

Deschamps’s report included 10 recommendations, many of which revolved around the creation of an independent centre that would be responsible for receiving reports of inappropriate sexual misconduct, as well as overseeing prevention, victim support and research.

Defence Minister Jason Kenney promised the creation of an independent body two weeks ago, after senior brass were seen to be wavering on the idea. But specifics have not been revealed, including whether the term “independent” means outside the military or simply removed from an individual’s immediate supervisor.

During her committee appearance, Deschamps reiterated her view that an independent centre is “crucial” to addressing sexual misconduct in the military.

“The more independent the centre is, the better the chances the victims will seek support and fully report incidents of sexual harassment and sexual assault,” she said. “Reporting is fundamental. Not only because victims need support, but also because the Canadian Forces needs to know how members behave.”

That doesn’t mean it can’t be located in the civilian component of National Defence, she added.

“If it’s located in National Defence as opposed to the Canadian Armed Forces, to me it would qualify as an independent process,” she said. “Because if a perpetrator is to be prosecuted, there has to be some kind of communication between

The more independent the centre is, the better the chances the victims will seek support and ... report incidents.

the two. So it has to be located somewhere. But as far as possible from the Canadian Armed Forces.”

Whitecross said she and members of her Strategic Response Team on Sexual Misconduct have spent the past month visiting the U.S. and Australia to see how those militaries have set up their own centres to deal with the problem.

They have also met with the Peel Regional Police and NATO officials, attended a workshop in Geneva, and have plans to sit down with the Vancouver police as well as rape crisis centres across Canada to get a better handle on options and models.

Whitecross said she could not provide a timeline for when she will recommend a model for the centre, though she does plan to provide quarterly updates on her progress in tackling sexual misconduct starting in the fall.

Asked by reporters after the committee meeting what independent means to her, Whitecross said Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Tom Lawson has described it as “being independent from the chain of command.”

“And I would just like to add that the centre needs to influence the chain of command. Because we need to effect change, and we need to effect change through the chain of command as well.”

Whitecross said she and her team have also visited six Forces bases, where they have briefed approximately 5,300 Canadian military personnel. Those in uniform are required to attend, she said.