Mlitary Ombudsman Damning Government, Military for Inaction Against Sexual Malfeasance

"[The office of the military ombudsman  is the victim of] subtle and insidious [attempts by the Defence Department to] exert control [over its work and investigations]."

"The ongoing sexual misconduct scandal within the Canadian Armed Forces and the Department of National Defence is moving from crisis to tragedy."

"When leaders turn a blind eye to our recommendations and concerns in order to advance political interests and their own self-preservation or career advancement, it is the members of the defence community that suffer the consequences. It is clear that inaction is rewarded far more than action."

"In the four months since the most recent outbreak of multiple accusations of sexual misconduct, the actions of the Minister of National Defence, senior government and military officials have bitterly proved this point."

"The erratic behaviour of leadership defies common sense or reason. The concept of ministerial accountability has been absent." 

"The cycle of scandals followed by studies, recommendations for independent oversight, half-solutions, and resistance by the Department or the Canadian Armed Forces will only be broken when action is taken."

"In the event that more talk of 'review' surfaces in response to this press conference and my position paper, I have included in the paper an outline of all the reviews already conducted on the subject since 1977. They are numerous and thorough."

Gregory Lick, military ombudsman, Canadian Armed Forces 

Canada's military ombudsman is calling for big changes in the military after years of complaints about misconduct. Gregory Lick issued a position paper calling for full independence for his office    CBC

 

Bitterly damning the government that brought him to his position, and the Minister of National Defence whom Prime Minister Justin Trudeau only the day before threw his 'full confidence' behind, stating him to be perfect for the role he was assigned to in 2015 despite a series of missteps and oversights, both of carelessness and intent, when Harjit Sajjan should have been dismissed from his post long ago, is an indication of just how redundant another National Defence insider's account of damning realities of dysfunction will be to the outcome of a situation that has festered far too long.

Ombudsman Gregory Lick demands the government agree to his office being granted "full independence" from the Department of National Defence and the office of the minister. He and others like him within the department, including his predecessor, are beyond mere outrage at the lack of dedication by both the government and the executive administration of the department to tackle the problem of sexual misconduct within the senior ranks of the military. Where the former chief of the defence staff is being formally investigated for sexual misadventures and the revelation that his replacement is similarly under investigation.

And nor do investigations start and stop with these two high-echelon administrators. Others of high executive rank have also been cited for sexual misdemeanors and have been removed from their posts while under investigation as well. The investigations have been conducted under wraps only revealed through sleuthing by investigative journalists to a shocked public. Previous reports and investigations with their litany of accusations and promises to reform the military have come to naught. Mostly because those who have done the promising and who have led the 'solution-finding' have themselves come under scrutiny.

 

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responds to questions about military ombudsman Gregory Lick's criticisms of the government's handling of military misconduct   CBC

 

The bluntness with which the ombudsman revealed the extent of the dysfunction blighting the military and its future in Canada is unusual for an executive still active in such a critical post. But he is appalled at the government's "inaction" in failing to address the sexual misconduct crisis that has smeared the Forces Those internal measures whose purpose is to support victims of misconduct have transitioned from "broken", he asserted, to "collapsed". Promises for change turned into "checklist exercises". 

That his office reports to the Minister of National Defence "does not work". He had with him a position paper with a list of "must-have" reforms and new legislation that would advance the empowerment of  his office. A recommendation that would have him report directly to Parliament rather than to the minister's office, enabling him to carry out his work "unimpeded". Controversy of the Liberal government's stance relating to the series of sexual misconduct allegations, along with Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan arose when claims against former Chief of Defence Staff Jonathan Vance were revealed.

Former CDS Vance vigorously denies wrongdoing, but the evidence is there and it speaks loud and clear. Gary Walbourne, Ombudsman Lick's predecessor, had months ago informed a parliamentary committee of having brought to the attention of Defence Minister Sajjan compromising details relating to CDS Vance's conduct, which Minister Sajjan refused to hear or see. When the information was passed on to the Privy Council Office and the Prime Minister's Office, no one took 'notice'. 

When the matter became public, Defence Minister Sajjan announced yet another review, this one to be led by former Supreme Court Justice Louise Arbour. Another review on top of an earlier one by another retired justice, Marie Deschamps, which was, like all such reviews, accepted, then shelved. "I have always had a professional working relationship with Mr. Lick. As Mr. Lick said today, there has been no political interference with his office. Further, I expect he would have alerted me if he felt there was a problem with the relations between our offices. That has never happened", explained tone-deaf Minister Sajjan.

Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan is seen during a news conference on May 7, 2020 in Ottawa. The military's ombudsman said Tuesday the minister's office had placed reports 'on hold' and has been 'delaying their publication and availability to the public.' (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)