A retired colonel says allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate will effectively end the career of the former top Canadian soldier in Afghanistan.
Retired colonel Michel Drapeau said Sunday that although Brig.-Gen. Daniel Menard was swiftly removed from his command of Task Force Kandahar once the allegations surfaced, Canadians should not jump to conclusions before the military investigation is complete.
However, Menard's alleged violation of the military's zero-tolerance non-fraternization policy -- which doesn't allow for any show of affection, even between married soldiers -- means "his reputation and his career (are) now at an end," Drapeau said.
"There has been a non-fraternization policy and it is very rigidly enforced, particularly when somebody in a command position might take advantage of his position to have a relationship of some sort with one of his juniors," Drapeau told CTV News Channel.
"The sentence, the penalty, has already been established: his career has suffered a mortal blow. And it doesn't really matter what the investigation reveals," Drapeau added.
Menard was relieved of his duties Saturday when Lt.-Gen. Marc Lessard, who commands the Canadian military abroad, learned of the allegations.
According to Col. Simon Hetherington, the deputy commander of Joint Task Force Afghanistan, Lessard lost confidence in Menard's ability to command after he assessed the allegations.
Hetherington did not provide further details about the allegations, but said the military has launched an investigation.
Menard was appointed commander of Task Force Kandahar in November. He was expected to remain in that post until the fall, when Brig.-Gen. Dean Milner is to assume command.
Until then, Brig.-Gen. Jon Vance will take over Menard's duties. Vance is scheduled to arrive in Afghanistan this week.
Drapeau said he could not remember an instance when a general who was head of a mission had been removed from his command. He said the sudden removal of their commander would be "a hard shock" for soldiers serving in Afghanistan.
"They are going to go through a very difficult adjustment," Drapeau said.
"The fellow they've been looking up to, the individual whom they have respected, they have saluted, they have served, they have even died for, they all in their own ways have formed their own opinion as to the quality of his leadership and his ability to command them into battle."
The dismissal was the latest blow for the general, coming just days after he pleaded guilty to, and was fined $3,500 for, accidentally firing his rifle in the vicinity of the chief of defence staff earlier this year.
