Chief of Defence Staff orders acceptance of sex assault panel recommendations
Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Jonathan Vance speaks to the media at Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ont., on March 29. Vance has ordered full acceptance of an internal inquiry’s finding into a high-profile sexual assault case against a former corporal.
Forces at the end of 2013.
The board of inquiry was convened in 2015 after former chief of defence staff Gen. Tom Lawson admitted that Raymond had been treated badly by higherranking officers in her regiment and that she had been wrongly fired. Vance noted that many of the inquiry’s recommendations have been implemented through the military’s efforts to stamp out inappropriate sexual behaviour, but ordered that all outstanding recommendations from the inquiry report be enacted as quickly as possible.
He also acknowledged that Raymond’s case was a catalyst for the current campaign to crack down on sexual misconduct in the military.
“Because of the concerns she raised, we are now better aware of how tremendous an impact harmful and inappropriate sexual behaviour has on our people and we are taking decisive steps to ensure this type of situation does not reoccur, said Vance.
“Her case is one of the reasons why Operation Honour exists and why I’m so dedicated to its purpose.”
Col. Josee Robidoux, who commands the 35 Canadian Brigade Group, briefed Raymond on the report, which has not been publicly released.
A DND statement said the report was critical of the military for how it treated Raymond, in particular through a failure to apply basic leadership principles in dealing with her harassment complaint, as well as a lack of communication with her throughout the process and the absence of follow-up to ensure her well-being.
“Because of the concerns she raised, we are now better aware of how tremendous an impact harmful and inappropriate sexual behaviour has on our people and we are taking decisive steps to ensure this type of situation does not reoccur.” Gen. Jonathan Vance