Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
National

Female officer 'disgusted,' quits Canadian Forces

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 17 Mar, 2021 05:30 PM
  • Female officer 'disgusted,' quits Canadian Forces

A senior female officer of the Canadian Armed Forces is quitting the military, saying she is "sickened" by investigations into alleged misconduct involving senior leaders — and “disgusted” it took so long for the top brass to come under the microscope.

Lt.-Col. Eleanor Taylor also states in her sharply worded resignation letter, obtained by The Canadian Press, that she believes the failure of senior leaders to set an example has "poisoned" efforts to stamp sexual misconduct from the ranks in recent years.

“While I remain fiercely proud of parts of our organization, on the issue of addressing harmful sexual behaviour, we have lost all credibility,” writes Taylor, who commanded an infantry company in Afghanistan and served with the military’s special forces.

“For me, the breach of trust has been too much, and my release is the best tool at my disposal to highlight the depth of my disappointment.”

Taylor’s resignation after more than 25 years in uniform comes amid emerging allegations of misconduct involving senior members of the Armed Forces, including the two most recent chiefs of the defence staff, Gen. Jonathan Vance and Admiral Art McDonald.

It also coincides with mounting questions about the military’s ongoing inability to tackle an issue that has emerged and re-emerged numerous times over more than two decades.

In an unsigned statement Wednesday, the Department of National Defence described Taylor as "an outstanding officer, respected for her bravery, skills, intellect and compassion."

"This loss highlights the importance of tackling this issue," it added. "We have reached out to Lt.-Col. Taylor to learn from her as part of our ongoing efforts to address broader cultural issues so that the CAF may emerge as a stronger, better, and more effective force."

Taylor writes in her resignation letter that she was “encouraged by the resolve our leadership showed” when Vance launched what is known as Operation Honour, the all-out effort to eliminate military sexual misconduct, upon taking command of the Armed Forces in July 2015.

Vance is now alleged to have had an ongoing relationship with a subordinate that began more than a decade ago and continued after he became chief of the defence staff. He is also accused of having sent a lewd email to a junior soldier in 2012.

The allegations were reported in early February by Global News, which says Vance has denied any wrongdoing. The Canadian Press has not independently verified the allegations, and Vance has declined to respond to requests for comment.

McDonald, who took over as defence chief from Vance in January, has temporarily stepped aside while military police investigate an allegation of misconduct. It has not been detailed publicly.

Taylor, who currently serves in a command role with a reserve unit in Halifax, does not mention any specific senior officers in her resignation letter, but writes of Operation Honour: “Sadly, the failure of senior leadership to set the example on the operation has poisoned it.

“In my assessment,” she continues, “the damage to progress on this issue is grievous and the question around whether the damage outweighs the gains remains open. My recommendation is to drop immediately the name Operation Honour — it is now harmful.”

She also says that she is “sickened by ongoing investigations of sexual misconduct among our key leaders. Unfortunately, I am not surprised. … I am disgusted that it has taken us so long to do so.”

“Some senior leaders are unwilling or (perhaps unable) to recognize that their behaviour is harmful both to the victim and to the team,” she later writes. “Some recognize the harm but believe they can keep their behaviour secret.”

Taylor also warns against those who desire a return to “normalcy,” writing: “Our desire to return to normal is exactly the instinct that allows this behaviour to thrive. We must seize the opportunity that these public revelations have laid bare for us and not see a return to normal as part of our end-state.”

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Firearm brandished, youth in custody

Firearm brandished, youth in custody
Numerous officers responded to the area and located a male matching the witnesses’ description a short distance away. The suspect was searched subsequent to arrest and a gun was located. 

Firearm brandished, youth in custody

CRA locks 800K accounts after possible email 'Phishing' schemes

CRA locks 800K accounts after possible email 'Phishing' schemes
The statement comes less than a month after the tax agency said an unspecified number of user IDs and passwords may have been accessed by unauthorized individuals, "through a variety of means by sources external to the CRA."

CRA locks 800K accounts after possible email 'Phishing' schemes

Amazon workers to self isolate after COVID19 outbreak in Brampton

Amazon workers to self isolate after COVID19 outbreak in Brampton
The health unit says all shifts will be suspended as the workers self-isolate for two weeks starting tomorrow as everyone at the site might have had high-risk exposure to COVID-19.

Amazon workers to self isolate after COVID19 outbreak in Brampton

Abbotsford Police need public's help in finding missing person Chamkaur Singh Brar

Abbotsford Police need public's help in finding missing person Chamkaur Singh Brar
Brar is known to live a transient lifestyle in the Fraser Valley area, specifically between Abbotsford and Langley. Brar is a 47-year-old man, standing 5 ft 7, 132 lbs, thin build, brown eyes and black hair; there is no clothing description.

Abbotsford Police need public's help in finding missing person Chamkaur Singh Brar

Woman in wheelchair victimized

Woman in wheelchair victimized
The victim made her way to a nearby overdose prevention site, where she reported the assault to staff, who then called police. Police located the suspect and he was arrested. Charges related to the assault and the verbal comments have been recommended.

Woman in wheelchair victimized

Police watchdog investigates man's injuries

Police watchdog investigates man's injuries
RCMP say that when an officer arrived, a man allegedly pointed a firearm at her and threatened to shoot before escaping on foot to a nearby residence.    

Police watchdog investigates man's injuries