Close X
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
ADVT 
National

Feds failed victims of military misconduct: Anand

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 13 Dec, 2021 02:29 PM
  • Feds failed victims of military misconduct: Anand

OTTAWA - The federal government sought to emerge from a dark period in the Canadian Armed Forces’ legacy on Monday as political and military leaders delivered a long-awaited apology to victims of military sexual misconduct.

Streamed online from National Defence Headquarters, the apology followed the federal government’s $600-million settlement with tens of thousands of current and former Armed Forces members who experienced such behaviour while serving.

It also came as the Liberal government and military leadership face questions and criticism over their perceived failure to address allegations of inappropriate — and criminal — sexual misconduct among some of the military's top leaders.

Defence Minister Anita Anand led the 40-minute apology, which at one point was being watched by about 8,000 people, acknowledging successive governments failed to protect those who willingly signed up to protect Canada

"I apologize to the thousands of Canadians who were harmed because your government did not protect you, nor did we ensure that the right systems were in place to ensure justice and accountability," she said.

"For far too long, your government failed to dedicate enough time, money, personnel and effort to deal with sexual harassment, sexual assault and discrimination based on sex, gender identity and sexual orientation in the military and the department."

Countless lives have been harmed by that inaction and systemic failure over the years, she added, a legacy the Canadian Armed Forces, Defence Department and federal government will carry for a long time.

Anand, who took over as defence minister in October from Harjit Sajjan, who was criticized for not doing more to address such behaviour among the top brass, promised real action, saying: “Things can change, they must change, and they will change.”

While the minister went on to praise the dedication of Canada’s current military and Defence Department leadership to addressing the issue, she stopped short of providing any specific details on how real change will come.

Anand told The Canadian Press in an interview Monday that was a deliberate decision.

“Even though we have planning … underway for a number of steps that we will be taking to reform the current system, I wanted to make sure they did not detract from the apology,” she said. “Because this is an important moment for survivors and complainants.”

Reservist Sam Samplonius, a survivor of military sexual assault who is co-chairperson of It’s Not Just 700, a support and advocacy group for victims of military sexual assault and trauma, welcomed Monday’s apology by the minister and other leaders.

“I was hoping that they would maybe broaden onto what things that they're doing,” she said. “However, I also can understand how they really wanted to concentrate on the apology, part of that.”

Samplonius said she and others are hoping the government and military leadership will provide an update, after many broken promises and missed opportunities in the past.

“One thing we've heard within our group prior to the apology being delivered was there was a great sense of: ‘Apologies are nice, but let's see some action,’” she said. “So I think that's what a lot of people are waiting for.”

During a news conference to announce a new child-care deal with New Brunswick hours before the apology, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau underscored the importance of the moment while facing questions about why he wasn’t delivering it himself.

“There have been many discussions around the right way to move forward, and I'm very pleased that the chief of defence staff and the minister are the ones making this apology,” Trudeau said. “But as you've seen, this is an issue that matters deeply to me.”

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Immunity against Omicron still unknown: experts

Immunity against Omicron still unknown: experts
Experts and global health leaders say it's still too soon to tell whether the Omicron variant will significantly threaten immunity gained from current COVID-19 vaccines as calls grow in some corners for expanded booster shots.

Immunity against Omicron still unknown: experts

B.C. giving $1 million to wildfire-ravaged Lytton

B.C. giving $1 million to wildfire-ravaged Lytton
The British Columbia government says it is immediately providing a grant of $1 million to support the Village of Lytton as it recovers from a destructive wildfire last summer. The fast-moving fire razed much of the Fraser Canyon community on June 30, just one day after the temperature there hit an all-time Canadian high of 49.6 Celsius.    

B.C. giving $1 million to wildfire-ravaged Lytton

379 COVID19 cases for Wednesday

379 COVID19 cases for Wednesday
There are 2,874 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 215,884 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 224 individuals are currently in hospital and 77 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.

379 COVID19 cases for Wednesday

Advocate says seniors abuse falls through 'cracks'

Advocate says seniors abuse falls through 'cracks'
British Columbia's seniors advocate is calling for a provincewide approach for reporting seniors abuse amid complaints that are "significantly rising." Isobel Mackenzie says there is a clear five-year pattern of increasing reports of seniors abuse and neglect, but the fragmented reporting system suggests the problem could be more widespread.

Advocate says seniors abuse falls through 'cracks'

Canadian officials to boycott Olympics: Trudeau

Canadian officials to boycott Olympics: Trudeau
Canada will join a diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics in Beijing next year, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Wednesday. The decision comes two days after the United States announced it would send government officials to the Olympics over concerns about China's human rights record.

Canadian officials to boycott Olympics: Trudeau

Afghan refugee exodus may take two years: minister

Afghan refugee exodus may take two years: minister
Immigration Minister Sean Fraser says the government predicts it could take two years to fulfil its promise of bringing 40,000 Afghan refugees to Canada. The minister said the government is facing challenges in Afghanistan and other countries where refugees have fled but is trying to get them to Canada urgently.    

Afghan refugee exodus may take two years: minister