2021: A year of investigations into alleged military sexual misconduct

Starting from top left and going clockwise, composite image of Gen. Jonathan Vance, Admiral Art McDonald, Vice-Admiral Haydn Edmundson, Lt.-Gen. Steven Whelan, Lt.-Gen. Trevor Cadieu and Maj. Gen. Dany Fortin (CP / Department of National Defence)

OTTAWA — The Canadian military spent 2021 grappling with sexual misconduct investigations of its highest ranking members, deepening the call for a complete internal culture shift.

The revolving door of senior officers stepping down or stepping aside has stirred up criticism not only of the leadership of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) but also of the federal government for not taking enough action to protect victims.

Former Supreme Court Justice Louise Arbour has been tasked with studying the culture crisis and putting forward “concrete recommendations” about how to implement an independent reporting structure outside of the chain of command.

Arbour’s report is expected to be made public on May 30, 2022.

The inquiry is not unlike that led by former Supreme Court justice Marie Deschamps in 2015. Deschamps found that there is an "underlying sexualized culture" in the CAF, widespread under-reporting because of a fear of negative repercussions, and ineffective processes to navigate sexual assault cases.

CTVNews.ca has put together a timeline of investigations of top officials launched by the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service (CFNIS) dating back to February of 2021.

So far, none of the allegations in any case have been tested or proven in court and all identified military personnel or their legal representatives, except Lt.-Gen. Steven Whelan, who media haven’t been able to reach, have denied any wrongdoing.

UPDATE ON DEC. 5, 2022: Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin, former head of the federal government's COVID-19 vaccine campaign, was acquitted after a judge found him not guilty of sexual assault over an allegation that dates back to 1988. The judge said he was not convinced without a reasonable doubt that Fortin was the accused in the case. Link to story

GEN. JONATHAN VANCE

Investigation launched:

Feb. 2021

Investigation concluded:

July 2021

Allegation:

Sexual misconduct

Outcome:

Charged with one count of obstruction of justice

Military police launched an investigation into former defence chief Gen. Jonathan Vance on Feb. 4 following media reports detailing two accounts of inappropriate behavior with female subordinates. Maj. Kellie Brennan, who was identified as one of the women, told a House of Commons committee that she and Vance were engaged in a sexual relationship since 2001 and he fathered two of her eight children. In July CAF and the Department of National Defence issued a statement stating that Vance had been charged with one count of obstruction of justice for attempting to persuade a woman identified as “K.B.” to make false statements about their past relationship. On March 30, 2022 Vance pleaded guilty to this charge and was granted conditional discharge.

ADMIRAL ART MCDONALD

Investigation launched:

Feb. 2021

Investigation concluded:

Aug. 2021

Allegation:

Sexual misconduct

Outcome:

No charges laid

Vance’s successor, Admiral Art McDonald, voluntarily stepped aside the same month after it was revealed he too was under investigation. The details of the sexual misconduct allegation have not been made public. Various media outlets have reported that it relates to an incident from 2010 during a social gathering aboard a warship. Provost Marshal Brig.-Gen. Simon Trudeau announced in August that the investigation concluded there was not enough evidence to lay charges against McDonald.

VICE-ADMIRAL HAYDN EDMUNDSON

Investigation launched:

March 2021

Investigation concluded:

Ongoing

Allegation:

Sexual assault

Outcome:

Sexual assault, indecent acts

Vice-Admiral Edmundson, the officer once responsible for human resources within the Forces, was put on indefinite leave with pay in March as military police launched an investigation into an allegation of sexual assault. Media reported snippets of the allegation brought forward by former military member Stephanie Viau that details an incident that allegedly took place in 1991. On Dec. 7, military police announced Edmundson had been charged with one count of sexual assault and one count of indecent acts. The case will proceed through the civilian justice system.

MAJ. GEN. DANY FORTIN

UPDATE ON DEC. 5, 2022

Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin, former head of the federal government's COVID-19 vaccine campaign, was acquitted after a judge found him not guilty of sexual assault over an allegation that dates back to 1988. The judge said he was not convinced without a reasonable doubt that Fortin was the accused in the case. Link to story

Investigation launched:

May 2021

Investigation concluded:

Aug. 2021

Allegation:

Sexual misconduct

Outcome:

Charged with one count of sexual assault (with Quebec prosecutor)

The former head of Canada’s vaccine logistics, Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin, was removed from his position in May 2021, five days after the CFNIS referred a sexual misconduct investigation to the Quebec prosecution service. The allegation dates back to early 1988 when he was a student at the Royal Military College in Saint-Jean, Que. In August 2021, Fortin was charged with one count of sexual assault. He said he will “vigorously” defend himself against the charge.

LT.-GEN. STEVEN WHELAN

Investigation launched:

May 2021

Investigation concluded:

Ongoing

Allegation:

Sexual misconduct

Outcome:

TBD

Military police launched their investigation into “historic” allegations of sexual misconduct levied against Lt. Gen. Steven Whelan in May. Whelan was Edmundson’s successor. Despite the investigation, the senior commander stayed in his role while the probe was underway for five months. In October, Whelan agreed to step aside given “recent developments” in the investigative process.

LT.-GEN. TREVOR CADIEU

Investigation launched:

Sept. 2021

Investigation concluded:

Ongoing

Allegation:

Sexual misconduct

Outcome:

TBD

The promotion of Lt.-Gen. Cadieu to the top of the Canadian army was halted this fall after an investigation was launched following an allegation of sexual misconduct reported by a female veteran. Cadieu was scheduled to take over as commander on Sept. 7, but the ceremony was suspended two days prior as the CFNIS was investigating "historical allegations" against him.