The Diversity Armed Forces of Canada

"As a result of these changes, CFLRS [Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School] is experiencing significant changes in candidates' basic capabilities and increasing pressures on staff and instructors." 

"For many candidates it is the first time that they have lived with members of a different sex and for some it is also the first time they have been expected to treat women as their peers."

"Older candidates from certain cultural backgrounds are also more likely to experience friction when responding to younger CFLRS instructors due to cultural hierarchies based on age." 

"[An early foreign-origin-heavy French platoon was] plagued by allegations of racism from candidates against staff but equally candidates against other candidates and constant infighting between cultural blocks within the platoon -- i.e., Cameroonian candidates against those from Cote d'Ivoire."

"[On the English side, platoons with heavy permanent resident members] suffered from low fitness levels."

National Defence, Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School report 

 

"[The military is currently working on an] onboarding tool [to explain the institution's ethos and culture to candidates'."

"On French [officer] platoons, where permanent residents have made up 50 - 80% of all candidates, there have been more emotional responses, with francophone staff openly raising the question of whether it is appropriate for officer commissions to be granted to non-Canadian citizens."

Commodore Pascal Belhumeur, spokesman, Department of National Defence 

Recruits on a field course sweep for dropped belongings during basic military training (BMQ) at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., on April 29, 2024. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

 

Through Canada's recruiting of non-citizens for the Canadian Military enabled by an experimental drive to increase the active participation of Canadian Armed Forces personnel, a January internal report highlights that the lowering of entrance standards has brought with it somewhat predictable complications, where recruits fail at greater rates, reflecting those changes to recruit practices dated from late 2024. 

 

New changes to the Canadian Armed Forces recruitment process:

• Restrictions on candidates with certain health and mental health issues lifted;
• More permanent residents permitted to join;
• Security screening reduced
• Old aptitude test  dropped

The tight restrictions of 2022 which permitted permanent residents to join the Armed Forces were relaxed in 2024, resulting in close to 800 recruits, in months following the change; in 2025, 1,400 permanent residents were recruited. Among permanent resident candidates instructors note poor English and French skills, along with problems emerging with new male recruits accepting the presence of women as military peers. In basic training surveys included complaints of "inter-candidate cultural frustration", the major concern linked to a lack of respect for women.

 

"That sort of behaviour is absolutely not tolerated in the Canadian Armed Forces"; any members engaging in such behaviour are removed "if it comes up", according to Commodore Pascal Belhumeur. A higher attrition rate is viewed as an assurance that preventive mechanisms are in play. Overall, the rate of basic training completion dropped from 85 percent to 77 percent in the first three quarters of 2025, according to the report.

 

Greater numbers of candidates are ordered to repeat a course, where previously the numbers were lower, ranging from four to eight percent, whereas in 2025 that repeat-course number was 15 percent. In 2023, 62 percent of candidates retaking a course saw medical reasons as the cause; another 15 percent for failing practical evaluations (i.e., drills, weapons and fitness); while another two percent retook a course for failing academic evaluations on topics from sexual misconduct to navigation theory. 

 

New recruits carry duffles full of kit during basic military training (BMQ) at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School, in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., on May 1, 2024. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

 

Only 45 percent of candidates ordered to retake courses in the 2025 fiscal year saw medical reasons as the cause, with 27 percent for failing practical evaluations, and seven percent for academic failures. A higher number of mentally unwell recruits who signed as a result of the lowered entry bar, are mentioned as well in the report. As well, 15 percent of permanent resident candidates failed the initial fitness test; that number was 8 percent among citizen candidates, including newly naturalized citizens. 

 

The basic training success rate for citizens among officer candidates is 85 percent, and 88 percent for permanent residents. One early French officer platoon was comprised 83 percent of permanent residents, half of which were foreign-born recruits. Non-citizen enrolment in the average French officer course is 57 percent ,while amongst English officer platoons permanent residents take up about 30 percent typically, comprising about 25 percent on average, of course enrolment. 

 

More troubling, according to the report, some candidates had been resident in Canada for a mere three months, finally corrected with the imposition of a three-year residency requirement for all candidates. Despite the higher attrition rate among candidates and the increase in cultural and competency problems, the new standards for recruitment, according to the military still resulted in a net-positive impact, since recruitment numbers have increased notably. 

 

 

"I think the Canadian Armed Forces that we are recruiting is a representation of Canadian society now."

"If you look at the number of Canadians that are foreign-born and the number of people who we're bringing into the Canadian Armed Forces, I think we are representative of the Canadian demographic."

"[Recruitment is competitive -- and the military is] proud to reflect the diversity of Canadian society."

"It's absolutely worth it. We went from 63,000 to over 68,000 people in uniform because of the change that we've done, and we've done this in a way without dropping the training standard."

Commodore Pascal Belhumeur 

 

 

The U.S. Strong-Arming Canada on NORAD Defence

"Frankly we don't need fifth [generation jet fighters] to defend our borders."

"Those capabilities are better used overseas where their stealth, air-to-ground weapons and penetration capability are needed." 

"I would like to see continued modernization of [the] fourth-generation fighter fleet."

U.S. Air Force General Gregory M. Guillot, head, joint U.S.-Canada NORAD   

A U.S. F-35 fighter jet performs during the Dubai Air Show in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)  

 

 In Canada, General Jennie Carignan, chief of the defence forces, is on record as stating that the 
Canadian Forces require the U.S.-built fighter jet F-35 to defend Canada's Arctic territory. The Canadian Forces themselves emphasize that the F-35 is a required component in plans to modernize the North American Aerospace Defence Command of NORAD. Also stressing an absolute requirement for fifth-generation aircraft for Canada's defence is Commander Lt.-Gen. Jamie Speiser-Blanchet of the Royal Canadian Air Force.

 

The Liberal government of then-prime minister Justin Trudeau in 2023 announced the purchase of 88 F-35 fighter jets built by Lockheed Martin in the United States. This, when years earlier Justin Trudeau had expressed his disdain for the planes when the previous Conservative-led government of then-prime minister Stephen Harper planned to order them. Trudeau's intent was to 'scrap' the planned purchase claiming Harper's "dream" aircraft would turn out to be a "nightmare" for the Canadian taxpayer.

 

Then along came Mark Carney with the Liberal government carrying on its agenda, with an review ordered of the F-35 contract spurred by threats made by President Trump against Canadian sovereignty. It seemed feasible that 15 of the F-35s which the Liberals had committed to would proceed, leaving an additional 72 of the Stealth fighters in doubt, while flirting with the prospect of filling in with Sweden's Saab fighter planes, the Gripen fighter jet, as a F-35 alternative. 

 

An illustration provided by Saab shows its fighter jet concept. The company was tasked by the Swedish military to design the next generation of fighters and autonomous flight systems. (Saab)

 

The Canadian Forces remain steadfast in recommending Canada proceed with its original intent to contract for all 88 F-35s; an expression of Canadian military leaders committed to working closely with their American counterparts, viewing the F-35 as pivotal in full integration between the two forces. There is a troubling aspect of the F-35 contract, parts of which would be produced in Canada, but entirely controlled by the U.S. military to the extent of their software which could be manipulated at any time against Canadian wishes. 

 

Another issue is the type of plane Canada plans to buy, the Block 4 version of the F-35, $6-billion over budget, five years behind schedule, revealed by the U.S. Government Accountability Office. Pressure has been applied by the U.S. on Canada to return to its original purpose of the full contract. The American ambassador to Ottawa, Pete Hoekstra, warned Canada dire consequences could ensue should the  government fail to commit to the F-35; that the Gripen would fail to be "interchangeable, interoperable" with the U.S.-operated F-35s. 

 

And here is General Guillot, head of NORAD, refuting the notion that the F-35 is needed by his combined U.S.-Canada force. Considered the most advanced type of aircraft, General Guillot hit back against its use for NORAD. NORAD's needs, he stated, are for fourth-generation fighter jets, modernized for current usage; the F-015EX, an aircraft produced by Boeing, in service with the U.S. and Israel. 

 

Boeing, F-15EX

 

"Canada has been flying different aircraft from the USAF in NORAD for 40-plus years and controls its jets through Winnipeg, and the F-35's stealth is irrelevant in NORAD because Russian bombers do not have air-to-air radar."

"[Hoekstra is] babbling nonsense." 

Bill Sweetman, U.S. aviation writer 

A Conundrum of Obesity in Canada's Armed Forces

 

Canadian soldiers get ready to leave Camp Julien in Kabul, Afghanistan, Nov. 29, 2005. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP

"I think DND [Department of National Defence] was hiding the records because they're embarrassed."

"This is information that people have a right to know and information of consequence. Is the military fighting fit or not?"

"DND claimed it had no such records even though the briefings clearly have a DND and Canadian Forces logo on them."

Researcher Ken Rubin

"CAF [Canadian Armed Forces] surveys also study eating patterns, barriers to  healthy eating, and chronic conditions."

"BMI at the population level is a practical and useful tool, especially to compare data over time, even if it has limitations."

"[The Canadian Forces does not track data] on the number of members who have been subject to administrative action or release in relation to physical fitness issues that may cause medical employment limitations."

"An administrative review determines the most appropriate action, if any, to deal with the matter, and is  conducted in a transparent manner with a focus on procedural fairness."

DND spokesperson Andree-Anne Poulin

Sixty-eight per cent of Canadian men were considered obese or overweight, while that rate was 78 per cent for men in the military, according to Canadian Forces briefings. Photo by Canadian Forces

In 1989 when the Canadian Armed Forces were at full staffing levels -- which they are not now at -- an interior study concluded that five percent of the 88,000 regular force was judged to be obese, and another 17 percent was considered to be overweight. At that time, 15 percent of Canadians were thought to  be obese, while 15 percent were seen to be overweight. Qualifying any serving member of a military as obese or overweight does not augur well for fitness to serve in combat roles in defence of their nation.

Fast forward to the present era, and what was seen as deplorable decades earlier seems in retrospect slight numbers of questionable fitness of individuals to serve in the military. As evidenced by shocking new data revealing that troops enlisted in the Canadian military have degenerated to the point where 72 percent of armed forces personnel fall into the categories of overweight and obese. Senior leaders were evidently warned of this increasing phenomenon of unhealthy fitness levels in the Forces in June 2024 contained in briefings warning that "Obesity prevalence has been slowly increasing for many years". 

One of the results of which has been an increase in sick days and medical releases, as well as reduced readiness and productivity in the pursuit of the profession. And this, at time when recruitment is at an historically low level. In the Canadian Armed Forces, today's reality is that forty-four percent are categorized as overweight, and 28 percent are classified as obese. Such briefings for leaders of the army, navy and airforce were not released to the public domain, but were revealed through applications to the Access to Information Act by Ottawa-based researcher Ken Rubin.

The Canadian Military, it transpires, has  higher rates of both overweight conditions and obesity than is prevalent in the general population. The briefings revealed that in comparison to the numbers of obesity and overweight in the military, for the general population, sixty-eight percent of Canadian men are considered obese or overweight in comparison to the 78 percent with those health conditions in the military. Embarrassing statistics which explain in part why they were never released for public scrutiny.

In the military, for example, 57 percent of women enrolled in the military are either overweight or obese, as opposed to women in the general population whose numbers in those categories total 53 percent. One report stated that "increasing physical activity levels will not resolve the challenges of obesity in the CAF". Military health specialists suggest the promotion of a culture of fitness through physical activity combined with injury prevention, adequate sleep and proper nutritional intake.

Mr. Rubin's request for data from the military through the Access to Information Act went unfulfilled; the response from the military was to inform the researcher that no such information existed. Finally, Mr. Rubin submitted  his request to the Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services, separate from DND, and from them he was able to obtain 141 record pages, including the briefs produced by DND on physical fitness in the ranks.

Short sleep duration (fewer than 6 hours) and borderline short sleep duration (6 hours to fewer than 7 hours) were independently associated with increased odds of obesity for male CAF members, but not for females. These results take into account differences in a range of other factors, including sociodemographic, work and health characteristics of CAF members.

Shorter-than-recommended sleep duration, poor sleep quality and obesity are concerns for long-term health, wellbeing and deployment readiness of the military population. Sleep has been identified as an important aspect of physical performance in both the CAF and the US military. Because sleep affects energy balance, eating and physical activity behaviours, it has been identified as a potential tool to aid in managing obesity. Longitudinal or intervention studies are needed to better understand the potential role of healthy sleep practices in obesity management, particularly in military populations.

Statistics Canada

Canada's Backward Military Preparedness

"There was over $10 billion planned spending under SSE [Strong, Secure, Engaged] for 2023/24, and only $6 billion was asked for in the estimates."

Parliamentary Budget Office analyst Christopher Penney

"Right there we're at a disadvantage, especially if we insist on having Canadian-made major equipment."

"[Juggling competition with speed, expediency and financial prudence requires a] delicate balancing act [between cost and value for money], while also ensuring, as had been the government's policy for some time now, to develop a domestic defence capability."

Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gestures while visiting NATO troops at Adazi Military Base in Latvia in 2018. (Roman Koksarov/The Associated Press)

Appearing before Parliament's National Defence Committee looking for insight on recent reports on Canada's defence policy with the inclusion of PBO Giroux's 2022 report on life cycle costs of Canada's Canadian Surface Combatants shipbuilding initiative, the June 2022 analysis of Canada's attempts to meet NATO's two percent defence spending benchmark and the PBO's March 2022 examination of planned capita spending under the country's defence policy, Strong Secure, Engaged, Mr. Giroux noted the Canadian government was underspending what was outlined in current defence policy.

Canada's notorious inefficiency in military procurement, its penchant for waiting out dilemmas, for buying other countries' castoff military equipment and finding itself with ageing and spent duds, matches the government's disinterest in the plight of a vastly undermanned and under-equipped military whose resources have been diverted to domestic emergencies and which finds itself incapable of stretching itself to respond to international incidents and calls on cooperation with NATO.

Canada's reliance on foreign military procurement, its leasing of other countries' heavy-lifting equipment as a reflection of its own inadequate military equipment inventory, its inefficient purchasing authority, pointed out the Parliamentary budget officer, is hamstringing its ability to meet defence targets. Even what has been outlined in current defence policy sees the government underspending. Capital spending shortfalls of $1.5 billion added to shortfalls of $4 billion this fiscal year.

"We shouldn't be the first organization that gets called to help, domestically [in natural disaster emergencies] the provinces are responsible and should get help from the feds, then reach out to the military. That's the way it should roll out. But increasingly ... the military is getting called earlier and earlier. The senior leaders in the military, I know from the discussions, they find that a bit frustrating. Because the provinces have the equipment and the infrastructure and the experience and the budgets."

"When the military does this it's basically downing tools and everything else it is doing to switch gears and go to communities."

Retired 41 Canadian Brigade Group Commander Mike Vernon

A crew of 59 aboard the HMCS Chicoutimi pass by Fisgard Lighthouse as they arrives at CFB Esquimalt, B.C., on Wednesday, March 21, 2018. Chad Hipolito/The Canadian Press.

 

The Canadian military has increasingly been called upon to fight fires, to shovel magnitude snowfalls, to deliver vaccines during the pandemic; by stealth and accommodation this has become a portion of the Canadian Armed Forces mandate. An acute situation made all the more so in the face of dwindling resources, of both equipment and personnel, amidst a growing call on soldiers "as a force of last resort" to help cope with extreme weather events. A situation that is seen as potentially compromising the military's preparedness as a combat-ready force.

"For a number of reasons -- cultural reasons, readiness reasons, equipment -- it's a weekly topic of conversation" remarked Commander Vernon. Who had under his command a 1,600-member army of reservists with units in Alberta and the Northwest Territories. Reservists typically volunteer for deployments at home and abroad, aside from their regular civilian employment. "It's a tenuous system backstopped by a lot of committed people who will make it work." 900 reservists from across Western Canada fought wildfires in British Columbia in 2003 for six weeks.

The American model is different, where the army has contracts with national guardsmen and commanders are able to activate regiments of reservists as required. As opposed to Canada where volunteer reservists cannot be compelled to volunteer since they must leave civilian employment for weeks or months to respond to the request for reservist volunteers to fight wildfires.

 

Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre has issued a sweeping directive aimed at bringing the Canadian Armed Forces back to full strength. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

 

Chief of the Defence Staff General Wayne Eyre called for a directive to "re-constitute" Canada's military last year, calling for a serious consideration of how the military performs, including the potential of transferring tasks and capabilities from the Canadian Armed Forces to the Department of National Defence employees or contractors. The military as it stands today, General Eyre warned, is not the one Canada should depend upon for the future.

"When I first started my career, we had armoured vehicles in the reserves here in Calgary. Right now, when the Calgary Highlanders go on a training exercise to Wainwright or Suffield, it's a mixture of civilian vehicles, military vehicles, pickup trucks, nothing lethal in that mix of vehicles. We just look like some kind of Gypsy caravan going to the field."

"We could be projecting more power, more influence -- or good -- around the world and yet there doesn't seem to be a coherent vision for that."

Commander Mike Vernon

The military command found it less than reassuring when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau remarked to the head of NATO that Canada has no real intention of attempting to reach promised spending targets in NATO. A demoralized military further sent into a spin of disbelief. The Canadian Armed Forces is short of ten thousand recruits in the regular force. It has become more difficult of late to attract recruits for the RCMP, the police and the military. "All these paramilitary organizations seem to be struggling to connect with young Canadians and ... with diverse communities", stated Vernon.

His own son recently graduated from University of Alberta, With the intention of following his grandfather and father, he applied to join the infantry. After six months of no acknowledgement of his application from recruiters, he turned his attention elsewhere, choosing a corporate finance position with a Calgary-based energy company. "He would have gone straight in, he wasn't looking for a free education at Royal Military College", his father said, resignedly.

Senior Recruiter Andrew Clark is shown at his workstation at a Canadian Armed Forces recruitment centre in Ottawa on Sept. 20, 2022. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang)

Boys Will Be Men and Military Cadets Will Become Military Leaders in Canada

"The lack of action and the fact the senior leadership looked the other way sends a message to the perpetrators that they have a free hand to do what they want."

"I tried to do something about it, but the chain of command didn't have my back. These individuals are now officers in the Canadian Forces. The predators, the creeps, they are the ones who won."

"You have a situation where the leadership talks about being serious in dealing with sexual misconduct and issues statements like that. But their actions never support that talk. It is a failure of leadership."

Lt.-Col. Mark Popov, Canadian Armed Forces

RMC Flag  Photo: IAN MACALPINE /Postmedia

"We can confirm that a member was charged with Drunkenness under Section 97 of the National Defence Act in relation to this incident and found guilty."

"The member was sentenced to a fine of $1,000."

"The Royal Military College takes allegations of sexual misconduct seriously, and every complaint is acted upon appropriately and in accordance with applicable Department of National Defence/Canadian Armed Forces policies, including immediate support to any victims."

Dan LeBouthillier, spokesman, Department National Defence

For years it has been acknowledged that the Canadian Armed Forces has a problem with sexual harassment. Years back there was a formal investigation which resulted in corroboration of the seriousness of the endemic sexual misconduct in the forces, and recommendations were made to correct the situation, few of which were considered, fewer yet implemented. Another commission has been appointed to investigate the situation once again. And that has occurred because the situation has become much more serious; the Canadian Armed Forces is rife with sexual intimidation, harassment and violence.

All of which came to the stark notice of the public in the last year when investigations were launched against the-then current head of the Armed Forces, its Chief of Staff who was forced to step down. Even while he was charged with dealing with the problem of sexual misconduct in the military he was himself personally indulging in his own sexual misconduct and had been for many years. A military female under his command brought charges against him, thus the criminal investigation. A new, interim Chief of Defence Staff was put in his place. Then he too was charged with similar offences.

One after another, elite military personnel were revealed to be under investigation on charges of sexual misconduct. Overseeing all of this was the Minister of National Defence. And it was revealed that a military ombudsman had approached the minister with a sexual complaint. The minister was disinclined to take interest, and shied away from being handed evidence. Minister Sajjan publicly assured that he was fully supportive of victims of sexual offences in the military, but repeatedly did nothing to advance an investigation or to take steps to ensure the matter be addressed. 

In a recent cabinet shuffle, Harjit Sajjan was removed from the Cabinet position of Minister of National Defence and instead, is in charge of Canada's Feminist International Assistance Policy; irony abounds under the Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who repeatedly denied himself having any knowledge of elite military personnel indulging in sexual misconduct although his office which also denies accountability, was notified of these events.

 

Revelations continue to emerge to the light of public scrutiny. Now we are informed that Canada's military leadership-in-training being groomed for their futures at the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario distinguished themselves by threatening young girls, members of the Sea Cadets who were visiting the College, with threats of rape. No sexual misconduct charges were ever brought against them. But not because someone in charge of the trainees didn't make an effort to convey to them the seriousness of their errant behaviour.

Lt.-Col. Mark Popov in  his position as director of the cadets apologized to the 17-year-old girls who had been subjected to those sexual threats, then confined the RMC officer cadets to barracks and undertook an effort to discover who the leaders of the verbal sexual assaults were. A month earlier a sexual assault prevention educator was abused verbally by those same officer cadets when she was invited to speak on the issue of sexual misconduct. This occurred in the summer of 2015 when the future leaders of the Canadian military demonstrated their contempt for decency.

They shouted at the girls as they hung out of the windows of their barracks, to threaten them with rape, sodomy and other sexual assaults, threatening to force the girls to perform oral sex on the officer cadets. A man and woman, both officers, attempted to intervene and were told to 'f--- off', according to Canadian Forces documents. Which was when Lt.-Col. Popov became aware of the situation, and determining to put an end to this kind of behaviour. Instead, he was informed to cease and desist by RMC Commandant Brig.-Gen.Sean Friday.

 

 Despite which the 200 officer cadets were assembled by Lt.-Col. Popov for the purpose of a dressing down. In high decibel terms he read out word for word phrases of sexual violence hurled at the girls, and in the process used his own foul language, informing the cadets that those among them who just stood by and made no effort to intervene wee as guilty as the perpetrators. Not one of the cadets produced so much as a gesture of regret. 

This was an event that precipitated a dressing down by Lt.-Col. Popov's superior. Brig.-Gen.Friday was disturbed by the foul language used, informing Lt.-Col.Popov that some cadets had complained to their fathers, senior military officers at DND headquarters. These senior military officers were outraged that their sons were addressed in foul language, not that their sons used foul language in threats against under-aged girls in verbal sexual violence. Thereafter military police informed Lt.-Col. Popov that he was expected to cease his actions of discipline and leave it to investigators to examine the situation.

He could face a charge of interference should he continue, according to military documents. In the event, military police failed to interview the girls and no charges of sexual misconduct or disciplinary action with relation to sexual misconduct were laid against the cadets who emerged unscathed, while their director faced discipline for his efforts. When an annual assessment of performance (review) was issued by Brig.-Gen. Friday several months later, the document stated that Lt.90Col. Popov had demonstrated "performance deficiency", citing foul language in the dressing down of the RMC officer cadets specifically.

 

A graduating class of officer cadets stand in the square at the Royal Military College of Canada during a graduating ceremony in Kingston, Ont., Friday, May 20, 2016. (Lars Hagberg/Canadian Press)

 

Medically discharged from the military, suffering post-traumatic stress caused by the toxic environment he was exposed to, he left the military. His commanding officer, Brig.-Gen. Friday retired after being promoted to major general.

"During my time as Commandant of RMC, we did our utmost to ensure that our future CAF leaders could thrive in a healthy and safe learning environment. I worked with my team to disseminate a comprehensive 'RMC Operation Order --OPHONOUR' that contained specific and detailed orders directing all staff, faculty and students to act with character, courage and compassion in responding to and eradicating all forms of sexual harassment and misconduct."

"This order contained a newly developed [over the first three months of my time as commandant], detailed multi-year action plan for providing a safe, healthy and harassment-free environment for students, staff and faculty and contributing to CAF efforts to achieve permanent improvement in this regard."

Royal Military College Commandant Brig.-Gen. Sean Friday

Unfit To Serve

Kevin and Annalise Schamuhn describe what it was like when high-ranking military officers chose to support a convicted sexual offender who had assaulted Annalise, and explain why they are speaking out now.   CBC

"Major-General Dawe [head, Canadian special forces] is an accomplished and outstanding officer, with a strong track record as a military leader. [Dawe] accepts responsibility for not taking the victims' perspective into account."

Acting Chief of the Defence Staff Lt.-Gen.Wayne Eyre 

"I believe that, through this experience, Gen.Dawe lost his moral authority to lead the special forces."

"General Dawe was in my chain of command. For him to support a violent criminal who had violated my wife, I didn't know what to do. I was shocked."

Kevin Schumuhn, retired major, Canadian Special Forces

We can confirm that the Significant Incident Report in question was not about Lt.-Cmdr.Trotter."

"Any attempt to discredit a member [of the Canadian Armed Forces] is reprehensible and lacking in both morality and professional conduct."

Department of National Defense spokesman Dan Le Bouthillier

"It's disheartening to see and to hear about."

"It's causing stress, but ultimately I have to understand what I had to endure for the benefit of my subordinates was correct."

"I have to be prepared for these things, professionally and personally."

Lt.-Cmdr. Raymond Trotter

A spokesperson for Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan says the department is looking at "additional steps ... to prevent sexual misconduct." (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

 

Lt.-Cmdr Trotter had testified to a Commons committee that having filed a second incident of sexual misconduct involving an unnamed senior naval officer, his complaint was set aside as irrelevant and he was berated for having reported sexual misconduct on the part of elite-level officers in the Canadian Forces. He had testified in March before a Commons defence committee of his decision to report allegations of sexual misconduct against Chief of the Defence Staff Adm.Art McDonald which led to Adm.McDonald placed under military police investigation, and having to vacate Canada's top military spot to which he had been appointed only a month before.

His predecessor as Chief of the Defence Staff General Jonathan Vance had retired. And then it was revealed that he too was under investigation for sexual misconduct. A ranking female military officer had come forward to attest to a 20-year sexual alliance with General Vance which she felt unable to resist because he was her commanding officer. She had made numerous complaints about her position to senior defence officials, none of whom supported her. And then she revealed all in an interview broadcast widely on television.

 

Canada’s former top soldier General Vance boasted that he was untouchable and that he “owned” the military police who are investigating allegations of sexual misconduct made against him, a House of Commons committee heard   Photo by Jean Levac /Postmedia 

 

To questions in the House of Commons by members of the official opposition, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan both denied having had any knowledge of allegations of sexual misconduct on the part of Adm.Art McDonald, appointed to take his place as successor to General Vance, just as denied knowing General Vance's sexual improprieties existed. This, despite testimony to the House of Commons committee that then-military ombudsman Gary Walbourne had approached the Minister of Defence with proof of General Vance's's misconduct, which Mr. Sajjan refused to accept.

Since then it has been revealed that a Canadian Forces document anonymously mailed to a reporter claimed to show that Lt.-Cmdr.Trotter had been convicted of sexual assault himself in 2018. Provincial court records indicate this to be a false effort to smear the officer. The document in actual fact referred to someone else entirely. 

 

Lt.-Cmdr.Trotter

This has been followed by Defence Minister Sajjan stating his serious concerns with judgement demonstrated by a general to produce a character reference for a sex offender who had attacked a female soldier. This, from the man who knew that former Chief of the Defence Staff General Vance had been a sexual predator, and refused to take any action against him to have him removed from his post. There was a personal link of prior comradeship between Minister Sajjan and General Vance that does not exist with the current acting Chief of Defence Staff, Lt.-Gen.Wayne Eyre.

Who saw fit to praise the outstanding leadership qualities of an officer who assaulted another officer whose wife he had sexually attacked. Claiming he has full confidence in the officer, actions aside, as an outstanding leader. Retired major Kevin Schumuhn differs on that assessment, since he was the officer who had been assaulted by the man Maj.-Gen.Dawe praised. A soldier who was found guilty on six criminal counts; unlawfully entering the Schamuhns' home to sexually assault Annalise Schamuhn, a retired logistics officer on two occasions, and twice physically assaulting her husband Kevin Schamuhn.

Maj.-Gen Dawe felt the sex offender was a "good guy", deserving of a break, leading him to influence the sentence the soldier would receive. With the supportive letters from Dawe and the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry regiment, the judge in question sentenced the soldier to three years of probation, and no jail time. That same soldier was later convicted in connection with another sexual assault, unrelated to Mrs. Schamuhn's, for which he was sentenced to three years in prison.

(Lars Hagberg/The Canadian Press)

Now, in turn, acting Chief of the Defence Staff Lt.-Gen.Eyre claims full confidence in Maj.-Gen.Dawe to continue to lead Canadian Forces personnel. This is a man who is viewed as a possible future candidate for the highest military office in Canada; Chief of the Defence Staff. This makes the third, albeit temporary, Chief of Defence Staff implicated in military issues of sexual malfeasance; though not himself personally charged with any offence, he has seen fit to support someone who has been.

Maj.-Gen. Peter Dawe, head of the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command, wrote a positive character reference to a judge for a soldier found guilty of sexually assaulting the wife of another member in his chain of command. He's been placed on leave. (Patrick Doyle/The Canadian Press)

 

The  issue doesn't end there, as yet another police investigation has been launched into allegations of sexual assault against Vice Adm.Hayden Edmundson. Parliamentary committees studying sexual misconduct in the Canadian Forces have heard an earful from witnesses called or willing to testify, about a military system geared to protecting its own, against charges of sexual predation while punishing or ignoring victims and those who support them.   

"The country's top soldier has placed the commander of Canada's Special Forces on leave indefinitely with pay following revelations that he wrote a letter in support of a soldier found guilty of sexual assault."    

"Amid mounting anger, Lt.-Gen. Wayne Eyre, acting chief of the defence staff, apologized for his handling of the situation and said Maj.-Gen. Peter Dawe will immediately turn his command over to the Special Forces unit's deputy commander and proceed on leave, according to a statement released Sunday."  

" Eyre said a 'sense of betrayal' was intensifying the suffering of many in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). 'It has become increasingly clear to me that MGen Peter Dawe's actions four years ago around sending a character reference are causing division and anger within the CAF', Eyre said. 'I apologize for increasing this pain'."

CBC Report

Sexual Malfeasance in the Elite Echelon of the Canadian Military

"For a full 24 hours I was running in circles."

"Senior officers appear to get special treatment when there are sexual misconduct allegations."

"I think that maybe the people who are responsible for sexual misconduct allegations are senior officers and they may have some connections with respondent officers. I've heard  in terms of an old boys' network' amongst the senior ranks." 

"I wish there had been more guidance for me. There are many policies, but I am unsure if Operation Honour has been widely accepted within the Canadian Armed Forces yet."

"At this point I felt like I had been running in circles all day, and I said I was willing to talk about it."

"[He’s had worse experiences related to another sexual-harassment complaint, involving a comment made during a video conference.] In fact I was berated in a very demeaning manner for following through on my reporting. I believe I was treated this way because the complaint was also about another senior officer,"

"In this environment, I can certainly understand why so many victims of sexual misconduct would be reluctant to come forward."

"[During a video conference where a senior officer made a comment about a female service member’s bedroom, visible in the background], He referred to it as her ‘red room,’ which many on the call took to be a reference to the movie `Fifty Shades of Grey.’ Several other members in that Zoom call followed up to echo this comparison and make inappropriate sexual remarks. There were many women on this call."

Lt.Cmdr.Raymond Trotter, Canadian Armed Forces

Lt. Cmdr. Raymond Trotter testified before the House of Commons Defence committee on Friday. Photo by Handout photo /Postmedia

Testifying before the Commons Defence Committee of the Canadian Parliament, Lt.Cmdr.Trotter described his flailing efforts to report serious allegations of sexual misconduct on the part of Canada's Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral Art McDonald, who had held that office for a mere month or so, after his predecessor General Jon Vance had stepped down. Both Admiral McDonald and General Vance had publicly committed themselves to eradicating sexual malfeasance from the Canadian military.

Both are now under investigation for having committed sexual offences and indiscretions before and after taking command of the highest military position in the Canadian military. A female military colleague had approached Lt.Cmdr Trotter of the allegations identifying Admiral McDonald as a sexual abuser. When he made an attempt to have an investigation launched he was repeatedly rebuffed, both by the Defence Department and by Canada's Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan; each sent him from one to the other.

 

MPs on the House of Commons defence committee voted today to expand their inquiry into allegations of sexual misconduct against former chief of the defence staff Gen. Jonathan Vance to include an examination of separate allegations against his successor, Adm. Art McDonald (pictured here), who stepped aside in February. (Andrew Vaughan/The Canadian Press)

 

Now, he has testified before the Commons Committee looking into sexual misconduct allegations against both ex-Chiefs of the Defence Staff. He explained his reluctance to take his message to the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service for the logical reason that the military police organization reports directly to the Chief of the Defence Staff. It is not an independent body. As well, he reported another incident.

That third incident was reported to officials at his home base of CFB Esquimalt in British Columbia where a senior naval officer on a Zoom call to a female subordinate, in front of over 100 military personnel posed an inappropriate sexual innuendo. One of the subordinates to the accused officer was tasked with investigating the allegations.

Once he was placed under investigation by the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service,  Admiral McDonald stepped away from the top military position that had been his for a mere month. The same body is investigating Admiral McDonald's predecessor General Vance, for the very same explicit reasons of sexual improprieties.

 

Gen. Jonathan Vance is under investigation for an improper sexual relationship while he was chief of the defence staff.

 

When Lt.Cmdr Trotter assented to testifying before the Commons Committee he was threatened, a matter now also under police investigation. He testified that he had been berated for coming forward to testify, and then another former officer who now serves as a federal bureaucrat berated him with raised voice that "I had f-cked up. I had ruined the respondent's career over nothing". 

Earlier testimony by former Canadian Forces Ombudsman Gary Walbourne had described his approach to Defence Minister Sajjan to advise over the sexual misconduct of General Vance, and when he made an attempt to provide material evidence, Minister Sajjan refused to receive it. As it happened, General Vance was Minister Sajjan's superior officer when the minister was in the military himself. They were known to be personal friends.

Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan is under fire after former military ombudsman Gary Walbourne alleged before the defence committee that Sajjan refused to look at evidence of possible misconduct involving former chief of the defence staff Gen. Jonathan Vance. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)

Compromised Minister of Defence, Dysfunctional Canadian Military

"[Canada's 'whistleblower' laws are slow to deal with cases, often ruling against whistleblowers; they are] nearly entirely dormant."

"Too often the rights that look impressive on paper are only a mirage of protection in practice."

"It takes tenacity and financial resources for any whistleblower to sustain a reprisal dispute for over six years, only to lose."

International Bar Association report

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faced criticism from Democracy Watch for the poor protection of whistleblowers. Photo by Adrian Wyld /THE CANADIAN PRESS

"I'm not surprised."

"The report doesn't go far enough. We need whistleblower protection for everyone involved in federal politics."

"Whistleblower protection is one of the most potent accountability mechanisms you can have, and it's clear the Trudeau Liberals don't want that accountability."

Duff Conacher, co-founder, Democracy Watch

CF ombudsman Gary Walbourne  CP/Sean Kilpatrick

"I left the job early on the advice of my doctors and my own realization that no reasonable person could possibly be expected to continue in the hostile circumstances created by the Department of National Defence."

"It was obvious this process was being used as a means of intimidation prior to my testimony before the committee."

"The only thing I ever wanted the minister to do was his job. Doing nothing was not the response I was looking for."

Gary Walbourne, former Canadian Military Ombudsman

"The Minister has always been committed to having a productive working relationship with the CAF [Canadian Armed Forces] Ombudsman and had regular meetings up until he was informed of the then-Ombudsman's intention to resign."

Tod Lane, spokesman, Minister of Defence, Harjit Sajjan

Oddly enough, just as former National Defence and Canadian Forces ombudsman Gary Walbourne was testifying before a Parliamentary committee, news came from a study released by the International Bar Association, rating Canada's performance with respect to commitment for the protection of whistleblowers; which is to say people who reveal misdoings and misbehaviours on the part of institutions and leaders to alert government, industry and the public that matters are not as they should be.

The International Bar Association report ranks Canada at the very bottom of the list of nations which have committed to whistleblower protection. Canada meets a mere one of twenty best practices -- for transparency and review -- placing it alongside Norway and Lebanon for weakest protections, well behind nations such as Ireland, the United States and Serbia, all three top-ranked. Canada fell back on whether whistleblower laws protect identity, protection against harassment, prevention of gag orders and granting a "genuine day in court".

Through former ombudsman Gary Walbourne's testimony we now know that Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan saw fit to cancel no fewer than 17 consultative meetings in lock step with the military watchdog's increasingly vocal voicing of the need for government to give greater aid to injured soldiers. Mr. Walbourne tabled his calendar and dates of the cancelled appointments with the House of Commons committee in their examination of allegations of sexual misconduct against General Jon Vance, who recently stepped down as chief of the defence staff.

Minister Sajjan headed a conspiracy along with senior defence officials, to freeze Mr. Walbourne out of the position he occupied for the past four years in reaction to his insistence on doing the work he was hired for. Mr. Walbourne did not consider himself a decoration the government could point to elaborating its commitement to whistleblower protection, but a dedicated spokesman for the vital task of ensuring members of the military had a voice that would be heard at the executive level and into the governing cabinet.

 

Canada's new top military commander, Admiral Art McDonald, has voluntarily stepped aside as he is investigated by the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service on unspecified allegations. McDonald assumed command on Jan. 14   CBC

 

 

Once he began pressing into the shabby way injured Canadian Forces personnel had been treated it gave him sufficient ammunition to produce six reports within a two-year period, detailing lack of support for military staff and families. Ombudsman Walbourne recommended that his office would be more effective were it to be removed from the control of senior defence officials, to enable the office to report instead directly to Parliament. Reprisals came his way as he found himself cut off in 2018 once he had informed Sajjan of serious allegations of sexual misconduct on the part of General Vance, personal friend of the Minister.

The immediate result of that meeting was cancellation of seven scheduled meetings, with another ten to follow. A portrait of a toxic culture prevailing at National Defence headquarters was revealed through the ombudsman's testimony before the Commons defence committee which heard testimony directly contradicting that of Minister Sajjan who insisted he had no knowledge of the situation until several weeks ago when it became public news. Not only had Mr. Walbourne briefed the minister in March of 2018, but he had offered evidence of the allegations which the minister refused to accept.

Additionally, his request for independence resulted in a vindictive campaign to drum him out of the ombudsman position, and the military. Soon Mr. Walbourne found himself requiring permission from the deputy minister to enable him to travel to a base for the purpose of hearing concerns expressed by military personnel and their families. A few months following his report in March 2017 recommending his office be made independent, DND officials informed him that a complaint had been lodged against him, refusing to divulge details, but suggesting it involved inappropriate contracting.

In October of 2017, deputy minister Jody Thomas informed him the allegation would proceed to a formal investigation even as the specifics were withheld from him. That notification arrived the very day prior to Mr. Walbourne's testifying before a Commons committee about DND's failure to act on his recommendations to give assistance to military personnel.

Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan cancelled 17 meetings with the military ombudsman between November 2016 and September 2018. Photo by Sean Kilpatrick /Canadian Press

Sexist, Predatory Canadian Armed Forces Elite : The Closed-Shop's Closet

 Gary Walbourne. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)

"Yes, I did directly tell him [Minister of Defence Harjit Sajjan] about an allegation of inappropriate behaviour against the chief of defence staff. I did tell the minister what the allegation was. I reached into my pocket to show him the evidence I was holding. He pushed back from the table, and said, 'No'."

"The only thing I ever wanted the minister to do was his job. Doing nothing was not the response I was looking for."

"I knew it was a hit job [military brass taking steps to sideline the ombudsman]. I don't know if it was a coverup, but I know it was a full-court press to get rid of me."

"What we need to do is get the dinosaurs [members of the military who prey on women] off the table."

Canadian Forces Ombudsman Gary Walbourne

The public scandal surrounding the harassment and sexual misconduct that seems to permeate the Canadian military and which has been brought to light over the past few years, necessitating a commission of enquiry, recommendations and a number of pledges from military brass that this kind of misconduct will not be tolerated and must come to an end, continues. As they appealed to the rank-and-file to respect the women in their ranks and treat them with due courtesy, in a bid to bring the situation under control, who might imagine this to be rank hypocrisy?

 

Then-Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jonathan Vance in Ottawa on Remembrance Day, 2020. (Giacomo Panico/CBC)

 

Former Chief of the Defence Staff Jon Vance made it his personal mission to put a stop to the scandalous behaviour of some members of the military toward their female counterparts. It must, and would come to an end he pledged, as he appealed to the troops to bring honour back to the Canadian military. His mandate recently came to an end, and a successor was chosen, Admiral Art McDonald. The new Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral McDonald, like his predecessor, also pledged his full support to ending the predatory behaviour that permeated the military.

And then, several weeks ago, a ranking female officer revealed that she had been sexually abused by General Vance for many years in a relationship she had reported on a number of occasions to senior officers only to be ignored. He was also accused of having made a hugely inappropriate invitation to another female officer. All this before he was appointed Chief of the Defence Staff, although it was common knowledge among other high-ranking officers of Vance's hugely inappropriate behaviour.

 

Former military ombudsman Gary Walbourne told a parliamentary committee that he warned Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan about allegations of sexual misconduct against former chief of the defence staff Gen. Jonathan Vance three years ago. Sajjan said last week the allegations came as a surprise last month

 

Bombshells just kept dropping. Only a month or so after having been appointed Chief of the Defence Staff after General Vance, Admiral McDonald too stepped down from the job. He too has been placed under military police investigation, just like his predecessor, and for the very same reasons. Allegations of sexual misconduct. 

Canada's top military commander Art McDonald has stepped aside pending an investigation into allegations of misconduct. (Andrew Vaughan/The Canadian Press)

 

Now it has been revealed that Lt.-Gen.Chris Coates who was to become deputy commander of Joint Force Command in Naples Italy has been set aside. He had been selected to fill a top NATO position but the discovery was made that he too had an affair with a co-worker. In all of this, Canada's Minister of Defence, himself part of the military before becoming Minister of Defence, as a top reservist, claims to have discovered these issues of malfeasance after the fact, and had taken all due steps to refer the matter onward to authorities whose job it was to deal with them.

Lt.-Gen.Coates had an affair with a U.S.civilian co-worker while deputy commander of the North American Aerospace Defence Command in Colorado. In all of this murk, the Minister of Defence claims he had no prior knowledge, but nor would he explain why General Vance, a personal friend of  his, never informed him of the situation relating to Lt.-Gen.Coates. The deputy minister at National Defence happens to be Coates' sister-in-law, and she too kept quiet.

"Management and discipline of officers of the Canadian Armed Forces is the responsibility of the Canadian Defence Staff, in this case, General Vance", explained National Defence spokesman Dan Le Bouthillier. "These types of personal relationships are dealt with inside the respective national chain of command and subject to the nation of origin's regulations on fraternization." The U.S. takes these issues seriously. Remember General Stanley McChrystal, the celebrated intellectual who had made such a difference in Afghanistan whose career came crashing down as a result of an affair with a journalist...?

Now, it has been revealed through Omburdsman Walbourne's testimony before a House of Commons committee that the Minister of Defence knew, but had no wish to know, about all the sordid details of sexual misconduct by senior military. When Ombudsman Walbourne met with Minister Sajjan in March of 2018 it was to apprise him of sexual misconduct, despite Sajjan's having denied he had had any knowledge beforehand when the issue of General Vance's conduct recently surfaced.

Gary Walbourne described to the committee that he lacked permission from the victim of General Vance's conduct to investigate; his approach to Minister Sajjan was for advice on how to proceed. He had asked Sajjan that the information be kept confidential to protect the victim; he wanted only to know how to proceed. "I was absolutely shocked they knew about it", he said, when he was summoned to the Privy Council Office a day later to be questioned about the victim, who had entrusted him with her privacy.

But nor did the Privy Council Office take action against Vance and when Walbourne asked to meet again with Sajjan he was refused. But then came a studied game of retribution from senior National Defence leadership against a man whose job it was to support Canadian military personnel. National Defence placed Walbourne under investigation,  his requests for details refused by deputy minister Jody Thomas. Seven months after his meeting with Sajjan over the matter, he resigned his position, with no other option left to him.

When Sajjan and Thomas, Minister and his Deputy, appeared before the same commission, they acknowledged that members of the file-and-rank Canadian Forces have little trust in the processes meant to protect individuals who complain about misconduct. The fear among them, evidently, is that they might face reprisals should they come forward. One can only wonder with incredulity where on earth they might get that idea?

Gary Walbourne, former Ombudsman for the Department of National Defence, testified before the House of Commons defence committee Wednesday. Photo by Julie Oliver /Ottawa Citizen