OTTAWA -- A senior officer at Canadian Forces Base Valcartier in Quebec is facing criminal charges.

Lt.-Col. Martin Bernier -- the former commander of the 2nd Canadian Division Training Centre at 2nd Canadian Division Support Base Valcartier -- faces two charges of sexual assault and two charges of harassment.

The military did not elaborate on what led to the charges, which were laid Wednesday.

But Lt.-Cmdr. Mike Amirault, acting commanding officer of the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service, says in a statement the charges are "significant."

In the statement, Amirault says there is no place for sexual misconduct within the Canadian Armed Forces.