PM says military misconduct a ‘failing’
ARBOUR TO REVIEW
OTTAWA • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday an independent review of the military’s handling of sexual misconduct is an attempt to correct a “failing of the entire system.”
“We have brought in a number of measures. They have all been inadequate,” Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa.
“Survivors continue to feel like they are not appropriately supported.”
The acknowledgment came hours before Liberal MPS talked out the clock in a parliamentary hearing Friday in a bid to stall an attempt to have Trudeau’s chief of staff, Katie Telford, testify about her knowledge of a sexual misconduct allegation against former defence chief Gen. Jonathan Vance.
The Liberal government announced Thursday it is tapping former Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour to lead a review of sexual harassment and assault in the Armed Forces and provide recommendations on an external reporting system for victims.
The announcement came nearly three months after allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour were levelled against the military’s very top commanders, including Vance.
Opposition leaders said Thursday the government failed to act on a 2015 report by former justice Marie Deschamps that also called for an independent reporting process and a reformed military culture, and that action rather than another review is what’s needed.
Trudeau sought to diffuse responsibility across decades of indifferent governments, and said any service member who has experienced harassment, intimidation or assault needs to be able to have confidence they will have support if they come forward.
“That has simply not been the case in the past many, many years, and that’s why we were taking action today,” he said. “That is a failing of the entire system.”
The Arbour report is expected to come out in 12 to 15 months. Until then, Lt.-gen. Jennie Carignan has been asked to lead a new internal organization that will oversee professional conduct.
Lawmakers from all three main opposition parties remained unsatisfied, pressing for the prime minister’s chief of staff to testify before the Commons defence committee while Liberals stalled for time with drawn-out remarks that pushed a final determination to Monday at the earliest.
Committee members debated a motion Friday that calls on Telford to appear before the panel of MPS to clarify what she knew about allegations against Vance.
“By blocking Justin Trudeau’s top aide, Katie Telford, from testifying at the defence committee, the Liberals are continuing their cover-up into sexual misconduct in the Canadian Armed Forces,” Conservative MP James Bezan, who put forward the motion, said in a statement with two other Tory MPS.