The Conservative government says it will implement all 10 recommendations highlighted in a recent report on sexual misconduct in the military, including the establishment of an independent centre to handle the issue.
When asked by the NDP during Wednesday’s question period whether the government would implement all of the recommendations in the report, Defence Minister Jason Kenney said "of course," putting to rest doubts that the government would not do so.
"The Justice Deschamps report just came out,” he said. “They’ve already implemented some of those recommendations and, in principle, they’ve accepted all of them.”
Former Supreme Court justice Marie Deschamps’ report revealed a misogynistic, highly sexualized culture inside the Canadian Armed Forces that may contribute to harassment and sexual assault.
Deschamps made 10 recommendations to address the problem, a process she said will take time and concerted effort.
Kenney was especially clear on the government's plans to act on one of Deschamps' key recommendations – the creation of an independent centre outside the military chain of command responsible for handling complaints and support processes for sexual misconduct in the Forces.
Deschamps said an independent centre may be more trusted by victims than the military police and immediate superiors they often turn to after sexual assaults and sexual harassment.
When asked by NDP defence critic Jack Harris whether the government would implement the centre, Kenney stood up in the House, said "yes" and sat down -- an unusually short answer for question period proceedings.
Kenny later told the Commons defence committee he is planning a “victim’s bill of rights” specific to the military that would “strengthen procedural rights for victims of sexual aggression.”
NDP Leader Tom Mulcair questioned Prime Minister Stephen Harper about a media report alleging that Chief of the Defence Staff Tom Lawson had written a letter to senior officers instructing them to ignore a number of Deschamps' recommendations before the report was released.
Harper dismissed that interpretation of Lawson's letter.
"The NDP leader is quoting from a letter that was written two months before the report. After the report, the CDS accepted all of the recommendations," said Harper. "To quote a letter two months before that and apply something else is unfair to the chief of the defence staff and to the men and women in uniform."
Harper's comments came shortly after Lawson issued a statement saying any suggestions that he asked military leaders to ignore the report's recommendations are "false."
“The directive I issued for this included planning assumptions, provided to … (Maj.-Gen. Christine) Whitecross to guide her work. These planning assumptions should in no way be viewed as restrictions or orders for her to ignore the recommendations of the final report," said Lawson.
“Our response to this issue has been clear, and we will remain resolute in our commitment to addressing it. Inappropriate sexual behaviour has no place in today’s Canadian Armed Forces, and we will take strong steps to initiate positive change," said Lawson in his statement.
Whitecross is tasked with leading the military team that will respond to the report.
In a response to questions about Lawson’s letter, Whitecross said Wednesday that she is moving ahead with all 10 recommendations and “has never been constrained.”
On the issue of the independent centre, Whitecross noted that Deschamps suggested examining similar centres in the U.S., Australia and France before providing a “a comprehensive option.”
Whitecross said she has already been to Washington to learn about the U.S. Army’s centre, will undertake a fact-finding mission to Australia next week, and will consult with French authorities on the topic in July.
Whitecross said the centre will be independent of the chain of command “for absolutely sure” and that it will provide “victim support” and “perhaps even advocacy.”
