Top general says sexual harassment ‘stops now’
Chief of defence staff calls for immediate reform regarding abuse in military ranks
OTTAWA— Canada’s new top general has issued a blunt order that sexual harassment and abuse within the military ranks “stops now.”
Gen. Jonathan Vance, who took over as the chief of defence staff last Friday, wasted little time firing a shot across the bow of all military members, warning that inappropriate sexual behaviour had no place in the Canadian Armed Forces.
In a departmentwide message issued Thursday, Vance vowed “significant” improvements in how the military deals with victims of sexual misconduct. And he said he will summon top brass for a daylong August summit to “lay out the way ahead.”
“It is leadership that will eradicate sexual misconduct from within our ranks,” he said.
But in the meantime, his advice to anyone needing immediate help is call 911 and get the assistance of civilian police forces.
Vance’s statement comes in the wake of a spring report that concluded that Canada’s women in uniform endure a toxic work environment, often the target of vulgar name-calling, sexual innuendoes and jokes, harassment and assault, and much of it is condoned or ignored by senior military leaders.
The report by former Supreme Court justice Marie Deschamps said the “undeniable problem” of harassment and assault requires “direct and sustained action.”
Her report set out 10 recommendations to tackle the problem, including a call for an independent process outside of the military to take complaints of sexual misconduct and lead prevention efforts.
Vance’s predecessor, Gen. Tom Lawson, was seen as cool to the recommendations. And Lawson sparked criticism after for saying that some male soldiers are “biologically wired in a certain way” that makes inappropriate behaviour seem acceptable to them.
Vance vowed Thursday that all the recommendations from the Deschamps report would be implemented as “rapidly and effectively as possible.” He has even given the effort to curb harassment an official name — Operation Honour. “The CAF have never failed on operations in the past and we shall not fail now,” he said.
In a lengthy, strongly worded message issued to defence staff, Vance left no doubt that he views such behaviour was odds with the military ethos of respect and honour.
In an organization trained to confront outside threats, Vance said it was “abhorrent” that military personnel could face harm from someone within the military through assault or harassment.
“Predators and bullies who act contrary to the betterment and well-being in our ranks are neither useful in operations nor in garrison and are not welcome in the CAF,” Vance said.
And he headed off those who might claim that complaints of harassment within the military have been overblown. “I will not engage in any discussion or debate about the degree or severity of sexual misconduct in the CAF. It does not matter, for even a single incident is too many, and even unintentional harm or offence is unacceptable,” Vance said.