Lawson's legacy: Why 'biological wiring' looms over Canada's new top soldier

Chief of Defence Staff, General Tom Lawson smiles during a change of command ceremony in Ottawa, Friday, July 17, 2015. (Adrian Wyld / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

As Gen. Jon Vance takes on the leadership challenges of being Canada’s new Chief of Defence Staff, the issue of sexual harassment in the Armed Forces looms large. And according to a former military colleague, tackling the problem has only been made harder by the comments of his predecessor, Gen. Tom Lawson.

Vance, a former combat commander in Afghanistan, formally stepped into his new role Friday, taking over from Lawson who retires after two-and-a-half years as the country’s top soldier.

At his swearing-in Friday, Vance vowed to eliminate harassment in the military, saying no one should have to go to work dreading that they might be degraded or attacked.

"I'm going to address that hard, because I think it affects our morale. It is something I will lead very personally and very quickly," he added in comments to The Canadian Press.

Retired Maj. Gen. David Fraser, who worked closely with both Lawson and Vance throughout his military career, believes Vance will quickly deal with the harassment problem, which was so starkly documented in a lengthy external review earlier this year.

That report, by former Supreme Court Justice Marie Deschamps, concluded that soldiers face a hostile environment within their ranks, and that sexual misconduct and harassment were "endemic" in the Forces.

"He understands that the trust and the confidence of the men and women in the chain of command are paramount," Fraser told CTV's Canada AM Friday.

Fraser said Lawson's final comments on the issue -- in which he suggested harassment could be ascribed to "biological wiring" – were likely to be what Canadians remember of him most.

"I've known Tom for a long time -- good man, but I mean, just those last comments probably took away from everything he was doing," Fraser said.

Lawson's remarks drew immediate outrage, including from Prime Minister Stephen Harper who said they were “unacceptable," "inappropriate,” and “offensive.”

Lawson later apologized, calling his wording “awkward." But Fraser says the comments were simply unacceptable from someone in his position.

"Tom Lawson is a good man, but at the same time, he was chief of the defence staff and everyone looked to him for the example and those comments were not helpful," he said.

Fraser, who moving up the military ranks alongside Vance, says the challenges facing the new commander are "vast," not only because the Canadian Forces organization is complex, but so are the global threats.

Vance will have to transition the Forces from the aftermath of Afghanistan and the fight against the Islamic State in Libya, as well consider "the re-emerged threat" of Russia.

"So Jonathan has to give the government of the day options – options about what can be used and offered up against those threats," he said.

Vance will have to lead the military staff while also acting as the principal senior military advisor to the defence minister and the prime minister. But Fraser is confident he is up to the task.

"Jonathan has tremendous operational experience. He's a great leader. And he's well-versed in the challenges he's going to face as chief of the defence staff."