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Sexual Misconduct Response Centre Annual Report 2020-2021

Committed. Flexible. Responsive.

Committed to those we support.

Committed: feeling wholehearted dedication and loyalty

Flexible in our approach.

Flexible: ready and able to change, to adapt to circumstances or conditions

Responsive to evolving needs.

Responsive: the quality of reacting quickly and positively to the needs of those we serve

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Table of contents

Message from the Executive Director

September 2020 marked the Sexual Misconduct Response Centre’s (SMRC) five-year anniversary – an important milestone in our work to support those impacted by sexual misconduct as we seek to eradicate it in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). The SMRC was established in 2015 in response to the recognition by the CAF that there was a need to better support and facilitate access to confidential services for members who have experienced or been affected by sexual misconduct. Five challenging yet productive years of growth have led to an expanded mandate, a wider range of support and services, and a deepened expertise – evolving into what the SMRC is today. Reflecting on its ‘first five years’ has highlighted for me three core ‘threads’ that have been woven into our story from the very beginning: commitment, flexibility and responsiveness. They have been, and will continue to be our centre of gravity. 

A year like no other, 2020-2021 has challenged the SMRC team to be resilient and to adapt our ways of working in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic. Given the health and safety protocols related to ‘in person’ interaction, we rose to the challenge and demonstrated flexibility and resourcefulness by embracing virtual technology as the ‘next best way’ to maintain momentum and advance our work in the most-impacted areas of engagement, outreach and training, wherever and whenever feasible. Despite the limitations, the team remained a cohesive, collaborative and productive unit.

The SMRC team’s ability to pivot and exemplify responsiveness continues to impress, and was particularly invaluable throughout two notable developments impacting our work during this reporting period:

The SMRC continues to provide a unique context, mindset and operational approach within the Defence Team – it operates as part of the DND under the authority of its Deputy Minister, and is independent and apart from the CAF chain of command while being responsive to CAF needs. The SMRC has strived to become a trusted organization designed to confidentially and comprehensively support members in making informed choices about potential courses of action in their individual circumstances and in navigating the system to get the help they need. At the same time, we provide advice and expertise to the CAF chain of command to increase understanding of the nature of sexual misconduct and its impact on CAF members, how to respond appropriately and support affected members effectively, and to improve preventative measures. The part of/apart from construct is essential in the execution of our SMRC mandate – we respect and hold true to its spirit and intent.

I am very proud of our unwavering commitment to an exceptional level of support and service to CAF members affected by sexual misconduct, and to CAF leadership in the form of advice and guidance, throughout a difficult year.

The growth of the services we provide, the collaborative relationships and partnerships we have built, and the progress made to date in addressing sexual misconduct in the CAF is significant. And there is much work – and growth – ahead for the SMRC as our journey continues. The next few years will see further expansion and enhanced capacity to define, inform and foster a culture of respect, while continuing to provide comprehensive, accessible and integrated support, as well as a renewed focus on prevention of military sexual misconduct.

Original signed by

Dr. Denise Preston, C. Psych.
Executive Director
Sexual Misconduct Response Centre

The first five years

Established in 2015, the SMRC’s initial mandate was to provide confidential support to CAF members who were affected by sexual misconduct. From its inception, the SMRC has been responsive to emerging needs, guided by subject matter experts and informed by evidence-based research. This is a timeline of the first five years of the SMRC.

The SMRC has developed into a centre of expertise, offering guidance on all aspects of sexual misconduct including response and support services, training and education, as well as expert policy advice and research.

Year in review

This report covers the SMRC’s activities and initiatives in the period from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021. Despite the challenges associated with the entire SMRC team working remotely throughout the year, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, we continued to provide 24/7 support to CAF members affected by sexual misconduct; support to chains of command in managing incidents of sexual misconduct; expertise to CAF on policy and prevention; expanded outreach activities and research; and advanced the Restorative Engagement Program.

Our partners and stakeholders were similarly impacted by the pandemic, of course, which compelled us to optimize ‘new’ ways of collaborating and sharing information. Virtual technology became the key enabler to continue consultations, work with advisory groups and contracted subject matter experts, and respond to requests from CAF and DND leaders for advice and support in their understanding, actions and communications related to sexual misconduct.

Financial management

The SMRC’s overall expenditures totalled $6.423 million in 2020-2021. The bulk of expenditures were attributed to salaries and operations and maintenance.

Expense Amount
Salary $4,900,376
Operations and maintenance $581,370
Restorative engagement $501,574
Contribution program $253,694
Training $156,803
Outreach/promotion $16,130
Stakeholder relations $13,053
Total $6,423,000

We made progress on a number of initiatives that were identified as priorities in our 2019-2020 Annual Report, and we started new projects. In 2020-2021 the SMRC:

The SMRC was able to accomplish all of this because of the following:

Support services

The SMRC focuses exclusively on supporting those affected by sexual misconduct, and offers the option of anonymity and confidentiality without the requirement to report to the chain of command or the military police. There are five components:

24/7 Response and Support Line icon

24/7 Response and Support Line

Response and Support Coordination Program

Response and Support Coordination Program

Military Liaison Team

Military Liaison Team

Restorative Engagement

Restorative Engagement

Contribution Program

Contribution Program

 

The SMRC is mandated to promote its services in an effort to inform and encourage members to come forward and seek services that best meet their needs.

The SMRC tracks the number of calls and emails by type in order to assess and communicate trends and issues. Trend analysis remains a critical role for the SMRC. With its independence from the CAF permitting anonymous data collection about victims, the SMRC is able to advise the CAF on trends and barriers to reporting through official mechanisms, namely the military police, the investigation service and the chain of command. The SMRC will also help identify service gaps which will allow the CAF to deliver support services more efficiently and directly where required.

What is a new case?

A new case is created in the Response and Support case management system each time an individual contacts us to discuss an incident related to sexual misconduct. There may be multiple contacts with individuals in reference to the same incident of sexual misconduct; this is all captured under the same case. It is also possible for an individual to disclose more than one incident of sexual misconduct, which would lead to the creation of other new cases. Further, different parties may contact us in reference to the same incident of sexual misconduct, but these contacts would all be captured as different cases.

24/7 response and support line

All CAF members affected by sexual misconduct can reach an SMRC Counsellor toll-free 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and receive bilingual and confidential support, information and referrals from public service counsellors experienced in supporting individuals affected by sexual misconduct, as well as an understanding of the range of CAF programs, services and processes which exist in various sections of the CAF/DND organization. There is no triage or prioritization of calls received to ensure that support is as direct and immediate as possible, and each call is considered a new engagement.

Who is calling?

Calls and emails from individuals requesting support and information have increased steadily since the service was expanded to a 24/7 model in 2017. This past year, however, we observed an overall levelling off in the number of new cases. The number of new cases only increased marginally from 649 last year to 654 this year. That being said, there has been a marked increase in the proportion of non-CAF members using this service, up from 22% and 24% in 2018-2019 and 2019-2020, respectively, to 33% in 2020-2021.

It should be noted that as a result of ongoing work to promote and ensure data quality in the CMS, numbers presented in this Annual Report may differ from those presented in previous Annual Reports. This is the case here as this number was updated from the 628 new cases that was previously reported in the 2019-2020 Annual Report.

Figure 1

Figure 1 displays the number of new cases created in the past three fiscal years. Individuals who choose to remain anonymous, family members, and former CAF members are reported as Non-CAF

When examining the timing of contact with the 24/7 Response and Support Line throughout the year, there was a steady increase in the number of new cases created, with a sharp increase in the last quarter of the year. During this time, there was a 228% increase in the number of new cases from 50 in January 2021 to 164 in March 2021. The sharp increase in new cases came in the weeks following the news/media reporting of sexual misconduct allegations against several senior CAF officers.

Figure 2

Figure 2 displays the number of new cases created each month over the 2020-2021 fiscal year.

The increase in the number of new cases was more pronounced amongst CAF members, as the group saw a 300% increase over the last quarter of the year, while a 136% increase was observed amongst non-CAF members.

Figure 3

Figure 3 displays the number of new cases created each month over the 2020-2021 fiscal year, by CAF membership status.

Similar to previous years, affected persons and the chain of command made up the majority of the new cases (see Figure 4), followed by third party callers (friends, colleagues, service providers) and information seekers. Family members or colleagues often contact us to obtain tools to support their loved one or colleague. Our counsellors also support bystanders who are seeking guidance as to whether or not what they witnessed could be considered sexual misconduct or whether they have taken appropriate action. We are also contacted by those accused of committing sexual misconduct.

Figure 4

Figure 4 shows the client category for each new case. In this graphic, anonymous callers are reported as Non-CAF.

Fewer than 1 in 5 affected CAF members contacting the SMRC are male (17%). When we look at the gender distribution for 2020-2021, our statistics demonstrate a lower percentage of male affected CAF members who contacted us than in the previous year (e.g., 2019-2020, 21%).

Both the 2016 and 2018 Statistics Canada Survey on Sexual Misconduct in the Canadian Armed Forces  suggest that about an equal number of women and men experience sexual assault, because even though women in the CAF are about three to four times more likely to be sexually assaulted than men, they represent less than 20% of the total CAF population. 

The relatively low proportion of male affected CAF members who contact us suggests that there is an ongoing need for outreach specifically targeting men and to address some of the unique barriers male members might face in seeking help when they experience sexual misconduct.

Figure 5

Figure 5 illustrates the gender distribution of affected CAF callers.

Note: The gender breakdown presented is based on information obtained from directly affected individuals who contact the SMRC (n = 153) and not on the new cases created for this reporting period.

Why are they calling?

Sexual assault is the top reason why individuals contact the SMRC (36%). This is followed by sexual misconduct – unspecified (22%) and inappropriate sexualized behaviour (17%).

Figure 6

Figure 6 shows the reason for contact for new cases.

Note: ‘Reason for contact’ is only available for 97% of the new cases created during the reporting period (n= 634). As a result, the percentages presented are based on this smaller number of new cases where information was available.

When disaggregating the reason for contacting the SMRC by CAF membership, proportions for sexual assault and other sexual offence were consistent across the two groups (CAF member and non-CAF member). A larger percentage of CAF members reported calling for a reason related to inappropriate sexualized behaviour (22% versus 6% of non-CAF members) and sexual harassment (16% versus 8% of non-CAF members) and a larger percentage of non-CAF members reported calling for a reason related to sexual misconduct – unspecified (34% versus 16% for CAF members).

What support services are being provided?

In the majority of cases (52%), 24/7 Support Line Counsellors provided information to individuals to address the specific situation they have disclosed. Supportive counselling is one of the primary services provided (27%), regardless of the nature of the incident or the client category. Referrals to the Response and Support Coordination (RSC) Program (5%) are only provided to CAF members.

Figure 7

Figure 7 shows the services provided for each contact.

Facilitated accessFootnote *
SMRC Counsellor provides the Military Liaison Team’s (MLT) contact information to the individual or vice versa.
Live transferFootnote *
SMRC Counsellor immediately and successfully connects an individual with a member of the MLT.
Crisis intervention
Provision of immediate, short-term assistance to individuals experiencing an event that produces emotional, mental, physical and behavioural distress or problems.

Response and support coordination program

Currently serving CAF members referred (or self-referred) to this program will have an assigned Response and Support Coordinator (RSC) to ensure continuity of contact and provide ongoing support, accompaniment, advocacy and personalized case management services to help affected persons navigate systems and processes, as needed.  

# of new clients 82
# of times supportive counselling was provided 868
# of calls/emails with clients 1,954
# of months (on average) of active involvement with RSC 6
# of referrals to Military Police Liaison Officer 42
# of referrals to Military Liaison Officer 50
# of calls/emails with chain of command 31
# of calls/emails with internal and external partners 280
# of accompaniments 0

The overall number of contacts (calls, emails), provision of supportive counselling and referrals have notably increased from last year. For example in 2019-2020, there were 337 contacts (calls, emails) with clients which grew to 1,954 this year. This is because the RSC Program only officially launched in August 2019. As a result, there were more active RSC clients this year, 123 compared to 52 in 2019-2020, as well as an increase in the number of Coordinators who were available to provide support to clients. While the average period of active involvement for cases that closed during the reporting period was approximately six months, 24% of the active RSC clients (n=29) have been involved with the program for more than a year. Of particular note, of the 82 new clients for this reporting period, 30% (n= 25) were opened in March 2021. This increased engagement with the RSC Program came following the news/media reporting of sexual misconduct allegations against senior CAF Leadership in February 2021.

Accompaniments are at zero for 2020-2021 as this service was put on hold during the pandemic, and will be resumed in 2022, pending public health guidelines.

Accompaniment: Response and Support Coordinators provide accompaniment to various appointments/engagements (for example, Canadian Forces National Investigation Service (CFNIS), medical, Military Police, legal), as well as court appearances (military and civilian) in order to provide the client with emotional support in cases where this has been identified as a need.

Supportive Counselling vs. Therapeutic Counselling

Supportive Counselling is focused on the “here and now”: who, what, when, where, how and why. Attention is paid to caller’s emotions and immediate needs such as identifying problems and working together to find solutions which will meet their current needs.

Therapeutic Counselling, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), is longer term, using concrete strategies aimed at changing cognitions, emotions and a pattern of behaviour in order to improve the overall quality of one’s life.

A day in the life of a 24/7 support line counsellor and a response and support coordinator

What do the counsellors and coordinators have in common?

Their shared supportive counselling approach and commitment to providing relevant and timely support services to those affected by sexual misconduct – you can expect them to:

How do they differ?

The 24/7 support line counsellors offer immediate support, information referrals and resources to affected members as well as to chains of command whereas the response and support coordinators offer more of a case management type of service on an ongoing basis which allows for a more in-depth model of support.

A day in the life piechart

 
Task 24/7 support line counsellors Response and support coordinators

Information:

  • on options, services, resources, policies, process
 50% 30%

Support coordination:

  • ongoing assessment of needs
  • support coordination
  • advocacy, assistance with chain of command
  • accompaniment
  • coordination of access and support with internal and external service providers
  • assistance with workplace arrangements
 0% 35%

Referrals:

  • referrals/facilitation of access to internal and external partner services such as MLO, MPLO, CFNIS, ICCM, CFHS, Response and Support Coordinator
 30% 15%

Case administration:

  • initiating files, charting, case reviews
  • communications, follow-ups, data capture
 10% 10%

Program:

  • outreach presentations
  • program development (expansion, quality, training)
  • support to colleagues (counsellors and coordinators)
  • support to other SMRC teams in their work
 10% 10%
 

What impact are we having?

“If it weren’t for the support I get from you I’m not sure where I would be today. You have helped me navigate this awful situation and make peace with my demons. All of this when no one else would support me and listen to what I needed to say, thank you so much!”
“I wish everyone knew this program existed and how awesome it is. You have helped me in ways I can’t even express. I feel ready to continue serving in the CAF now, regardless of my feelings towards certain individuals. As you said, not everyone is like them!”
“RSC is the best thing that could have happened to me after such a terrible experience. You never know how strong you are until someone takes the time to point it out to you and help you see it for yourself. I honestly don’t know where I would be today without your help.”
“Tu es la seule à qui je peux parler sans crainte, pour moi ce service est indispensable.”
A military leader who had her own experience with sexual misconduct called to find out how she could best support a subordinate who had recently disclosed to her: “Thank you for allowing me to be vulnerable with you so that I can, in turn, continue to be strong for her.”  
“There is a sexual misconduct response line. It has tons of resources that can help. I wish I had known about this line. I only found out about it a couple of weeks after I reported. It has its own military police that can help. It has an option to have a third person, so you don’t have to be in direct contact with the police.”

Military liaison team

An embedded military team, the Military Liaison Team (MLT) is a key component of the SMRC's comprehensive delivery model and approach to addressing sexual misconduct. The MLT consists of Military Liaison Officers (MLO) and Military Police Liaison Officers (MPLO) from the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service (CFNIS). While their respective roles are different, collectively the MLO and MPLO provide strategic advice and perform direct military liaison between the SMRC and the CAF.

In 2020-2021, 260 individuals connected with MLO and 86 connected with MPLO.

Figure 8

Figure 8 displays the number of individuals who contacted the MLT in the last three fiscal years.

Of note, there has been a 33% decrease in contacts with MPLO over the past three years but a 128% increase in contacts with MLO over the same time period. Decrease in calls to MPLO may be due to more people reporting directly to Military Police/CFNIS.

Disclosing vs. Reporting

Disclosing is telling someone what happened, usually to break the silence and get support, without a formal investigation process being initiated. 

Reporting is a formal report to the police or the chain of command, which typically results in a formal investigation process being initiated.

You can disclose without reporting. The terms should not be used interchangeably.

MLO vs. MPLO

Military Liaison Officer (MLO)

  • Supports affected members in a variety of ways, from responding to the CAF members’ questions on military policies, processes and procedures, to assisting in the resolution of issues.
  • Provides immediate support to chains of command in managing what can be sensitive and challenging situations, and assists them with interpreting and applying policies and procedures.
  • Advises the SMRC on CAF culture, trends, policies and procedures; provides professional development sessions on CAF and rank structure for the SMRC team and actively participates in the SMRC outreach program.
  • Facilitates communication amongst the SMRC, Director General Professional Military Conduct (DGPMC), the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff Group (VCDS Gp) and other L1 Staff, in order to ensure mutual understanding, unity of purpose and action, and effective implementation of the CAF’s response to sexual misconduct.

Military Police Liaison Officer (MPLO)

  • Provides information to affected persons on the reporting, investigation, and associated military/civilian justice processes.
  • CAF members can speak to an MPLO anonymously to obtain information on whether or not the incident they experienced meets the threshold for an offence under the Criminal Code of Canada, and on the investigative process itself, to help them make an informed decision about reporting.
  • Advises the SMRC on military/civilian justice processes as it relates to sexual offences; provides military police advice in support of the development and implementation of policy relating to sexual misconduct in the CAF; and is the SMRC’s primary point of contact for the CFNIS.
  • Military members do not have access to the SMRC’s confidential client information. While the CAF receives regular reports from the SMRC on the number and nature of calls, the CAF chain of command does not have access to the confidential information in the database. The case management system maintains caller confidentiality in accordance with the Privacy Act.

Restorative Engagement Program

In 2016 and 2017, several former CAF members filed class action lawsuits, claiming damages for gender discrimination, sexual harassment, and sexual assault in connection with their military service and/or employment with DND, the CAF and/or Staff of the Non-Public Funds (SNPF). A CAF-DND Sexual Misconduct Class Action Settlement, referred to as the Final Settlement Agreement (FSA), was approved by the Federal Court in November 2019. This Agreement includes an option for class members to participate in a Restorative Engagement (RE) Program, known as Schedule K. The RE program is a key component of the SMRC’s support services. It aims to create opportunities:

The RE Program is being developed and will be implemented by the SMRC in partnership with the Integrated Conflict and Complaint Management (ICCM) and in consultation with persons affected by sexual misconduct, experts in restorative approaches and internal and external stakeholders. There are four phases in the RE Program (Figure 9). In 2020-2021 the focus was on Phase 2: Program Design and Development. The RE team held extensive design consultations to seek advice and guidance on all aspects of the program. In addition, an anonymous questionnaire yielded 200 responses from affected persons in the CAF, DND and SNPF. These efforts resulted in the identification of the critical elements for the Program to meet its intended purpose.

The RE team worked collaboratively with external subject matter experts to complete the initial program design framework informed by these consultations. The approach was shared with internal and external stakeholders. All groups expressed support for the program design.

In addition to the consultation and design work, the RE Program has been actively recruiting and hiring restorative practitioners across the country and has developed a plan for the initial launch of the program – its Initial Operating Capability (IOC) – planned for fall 2021.

Figure 9

Figure 9 illustrates the phases of RE Program.

Contribution Program

The SMRC’s Transfer Payment Program, currently referred to as the Contribution Program and also known as the Contributions in Support of Sexual Assault Centres in Canada, funds projects from civilian sexual assault centres located near nine of the largest Canadian Forces bases. The Program seeks to address gaps in support for the CAF community by enhancing access to survivor support services.

As of April 2021, nine contribution agreements have been signed with the successful recipients, allowing the funded centres to undertake this important work. The goal was to fund ten centres across Canada, however there were no successful applications from one location despite two public calls for submissions and considerable engagement with centres in that area. In the coming year, the SMRC will be expanding this program to broaden its organizational and geographic reach, and to better meet the needs of underserved communities.

Respect in the CAF (RitCAF)
  • Between March 2020 and August 2020 the RitCAF workshop was not delivered due to Public Health regulations related to COVID-19.
  • From September 2020 to March 2021, there were 113 workshops delivered, with 1,224 participants. This includes the delivery of 16 RitCAF workshops in September alone (154 individuals).
  • The RitCAF online application is available to download on Apple devices from the Apple iStore, and on Android devices from the Google Play Store.

Training and education

The SMRC's Training and Education Team's work was impacted by the pandemic and as a result, the traditional ways of conducting in-person workshops, presentations and base visits were not an option. However, they were able to provide services and promote our programs virtually to internal and external audiences:

CAF Immersive Learning Platform

The CAF Immersive Learning Platform is an online training environment set at a generic CAF campus facility. Buildings on the campus contain scenario-based activities (both self-paced and facilitated) to provide CAF members a safe place to practice skills related to professional conduct and culture. Issues the learner will face include bystander intervention, misgendering, overuse of pornography, abusive language, academic dishonesty, maintaining a command climate and student-instructor relationships, among others. Over the course of 2020-2021, considerable progress was made on the platform in anticipation of launch in 2021-2022. The development of online modules is ongoing.

Royal Military College (RMC) “Building our Future” Prevention Pilot

Given the higher prevalence of sexual misconduct amongst the youngest CAF members, a top priority for primary prevention programs is to target military college and early career CAF training environments with content and delivery tailored to emerging adults. “Building our Future” is based on research indicating that emerging adults continue to develop personality, intellectual functioning, moral reasoning, decision making, impulsivity, coping, and problem-solving well into their twenties.

The program is organized into modules matched to the developmental and training/career levels. Each level is designed to introduce material in a developmentally relevant manner beginning with enhancing skills relevant to the new challenges these individuals face with regards to managing sex, relationships, and alcohol and ending with leadership skills including interpersonal and communications skills and response to disclosures. Critical material is reviewed across years, providing opportunities to “boost” previously acquired knowledge and to sustain the learning. This program was integrated into other prevention strategies being provided at RMC (for example, leadership training, chaplain and sentinel training, Respect in the CAF workshop).

A condensed version of "Building our Future" was delivered as an initial pilot to the fourth year RMC students in the 2019-2020 academic year. The goal was to pilot the content, structure, train-the-trainers approach, and to receive feedback on the entire process. Post-training feedback from this initial pilot was positive and the recommended changes were integrated into the full curriculum. The full program was scheduled to be delivered in 2020-2021, but unfortunately this was not possible due to COVID restrictions. Plans are underway for delivery during the 2021-2022 academic year.

Expert policy advice and research

Bill C-77

Bill C-77, An Act to amend the National Defence Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts, received Royal Assent in 2019. The legislation adds a new Division, entitled Declaration of Victims’ Rights (DVR), to the Code of Service Discipline. The DVR will provide victims of service offences with rights to information, protection, participation and restitution, as well as a complaint mechanism for when they believe their rights have been infringed. It also provides for a Victims’ Liaison Officer to help ensure victims are properly informed and in a position to exercise their rights, by explaining the procedures regarding investigations, charges and convictions and by obtaining information requested by the victim to which they are entitled to under the DVR. Throughout 2020-2021 the SMRC continued to work with the Office of the Judge Advocate General to provide guidance and advice on the drafting of the regulations and policies as well as the training requirements related to the DVR’s implementation, set to come into force in spring 2022.

The External Advisory Council

The SMRC benefits from an External Advisory Council (EAC) on Sexual Misconduct, comprised of eight subject matter experts and leaders in Canada’s public and private sectors. The purpose of the Council is to provide independent, third party advice to the Deputy Minister and the Chief of the Defence Staff on their response and initiatives to address and eliminate sexual misconduct in the CAF.

Each member brings relevant expertise such as lived experience, experience in victim service delivery or victim advocacy, expertise with perpetrators, and representatives from academia, Veterans Affairs Canada and private corporations. EAC meetings were conducted virtually in 2020-2021 and topics included the:

Parliamentary appearances

Near the end of 2020-2021, interest in the issue of sexual misconduct in the CAF reached new levels in the House of Commons. With allegations of sexual misconduct surfacing against several senior CAF officers, two separate House of Commons Committees began studies on sexual misconduct in the CAF. The Defence Committee (NDDN) began its study on 19 February 2021, while the Status of Women Committee (FEWO) began its study on 23 March 2021. Even though the two committees interviewed many of the same witnesses, NDDN focused more on accountability at various levels while FEWO focused more on the experiences of those in the CAF who have experienced sexual misconduct. Dr. Preston appeared before both committees to provide expert testimony on the services and programs offered by the SMRC.

Surveys and feedback

Two events of note during 2020-2021:

Statistics Canada Survey of Sexual Misconduct at the Canadian Military College (SSMCMC)
The survey and report are called Experiences of unwanted sexualized and discriminatory behaviours and sexual assault among students at Canadian military colleges, 2019. SMRC was engaged in the CAF’s review and analysis of the results and Dr. Preston participated in DND’s technical briefings to inform relevant stakeholders of the findings.

Your Say Survey
Approximately 3,000 Regular Force and Primary Reserve members completed the most recent Your Say Survey (YSS) between 20 January and 31 March 2020. The results were published in September 2021 and we share a few findings relevant to the SMRC presented in Figure 10 and summarized here.

Figure 10

Figure 10 highlights a few YSS findings related to the SMRC client experience.

Survivor Support Consultations

Conducting Survivor Support Consultations is a key policy measure included in the Final Settlement Agreement (FSA) to the CAF-DND Sexual Misconduct Class Action – this commitment is Schedule N to the FSA. It originates from class members’ wish to see the DND/CAF enhance the way in which those affected by sexual misconduct within the CAF are supported. It is a cornerstone of the DND/CAF’s broader efforts to put in place a robust approach to support for CAF members affected by sexual misconduct, along with a stakeholder engagement framework. The consultation process with the Survivor Support Consultation Group (SSCG) which brings together DND/CAF and class member representatives as well as subject matter experts, has been focused on the development of a CAF Survivor Support Strategy.

The SSCG’s work throughout 2020-2021 included:

Next steps include the completion of presentations and reports by subject matter experts to the SSCG and the drafting of a Summary Report identifying recommendations aimed at enhancing support for those affected by sexual misconduct in the CAF.

The SMRC Prevention Strategy

The SMRC Prevention Strategy reviewed the existing research literature on sexual aggression, harassment, and sexual misconduct in both civilian and military contexts. The goal of the review was to expand the CAF’s knowledge of those who commit sexual misconduct, in order to enhance:

The SMRC Prevention Strategy identified three important gaps in the current CAF prevention efforts. These include prevention efforts targeting:

From this initiating document, the Prevention Team established their agenda of research and product development. This includes research studies designed to better understand the who, what, why, when, and where, of sexual misconduct in the CAF as well as to improve the understanding of leadership responses (for example, types of sanctions) to founded reports of sexual misconduct. Research results will be used to develop frameworks to improve consistency in responding to sexual misconduct and make recommendations for additional support and interventions, as well as adaptations of existing prevention approaches.

Moving forward

At the very end of 2020-2021 and continuing into the next fiscal year a number of events served to expedite or prioritize the SMRC’s work for 2021-2022 and include the following:

Establishment of the Chief, Professional Conduct and Culture (CPCC)

In April 2021, the Chief, Professional Conduct and Culture (CPCC) was established to align CAF culture and professional conduct with the CAF fundamental values, to strengthen professionalism across Defence in order to create a healthy, safe, and inclusive organizational culture.

Although the two organizations will work alongside one another, the SMRC will continue to be an external body, independent from the CPCC and the CAF chain of command, with its specific mandate to provide support to those affected by sexual misconduct, expert advice to the Defence Team, and monitor progress in addressing sexual misconduct. The SMRC and the new CPCC will ensure complementary yet distinct mandates, and will contribute to the identification and understanding of lessons learned.

Independent External Review

An independent external review to be led by Madame Louise Arbour was commissioned by the Minister of National Defence in April 2021. While the 2015 Deschamps report was instrumental in identifying what the problem is; this new review will take a broader look at how and why our existing workplace dynamics enable harmful behaviours, and make recommendations on preventing and eradicating sexual misconduct. This will include a comprehensive review of current policies, procedures, programs, practices, and culture within the CAF and the DND, including the mandate and independence of SMRC. Supporting Madame Arbour’s mandate represents a line of effort for the SMRC in 2021-2022.

Bill C-77

The SMRC will continue to work with the Judge Advocate General’s office on the regulations to implement Bill C-77 in the military justice system, particularly in relation to the Declaration of Victims’ Rights. Similarly, as the CAF implements the recommendations from the Third Independent Review Authority on the National Defence Act to improve the military justice system, the SMRC will be involved in approximately ten recommendations on some level, including work on the issue of Duty to Report, Restorative Justice, and the Independent Legal Advice program that was included in Budget 2021.

Policy results, data and research

In 2021-2022, the SMRC will establish a team dedicated to policy results, data and research. One of the roles of this team will be to develop a comprehensive data strategy for the SMRC that will take into account the need to monitor the CAF’s progress in addressing sexual misconduct. The latter will include obtaining appropriate access to DND/CAF data assets that collect information on sexual misconduct.

At the department level, the SMRC will be involved in an initiative led by both ADM(DIA) [Data, Innovation and Analytics] and ADM(IM) [Infrastructure Management] to assess and identify misconduct data holdings and implement an integrated solution that will address current and future data and application needs related to the management of the Defence Team’s well-being. This work will align with the SMRC’s January 2020 paper, Recommendations to Enhance Understanding and Reporting of Sexual Misconduct in the CAF.

Launch of Restorative Engagement

The SMRC continues to develop tools and protocols for service delivery and conducting the necessary recruitment, assessment and preparation for an initial group of restorative practitioners, Defence Representatives and other program staff in preparation for program launch. The RE program is scheduled to launch in initial operating capability in the fall 2021, scaling up to full operational capability in summer 2022. The program will be in place until all eligible claimants have had the opportunity to participate.

Budget 2021 and the SMRC strategic initiatives

Budget 2021 included major announcements related to sexual misconduct in the CAF. It outlined initial investments of $59.7 million over five years to expand the SMRC’s support services, with a focus on:

SMRC Expansion

Peer Support Program

Survivors often describe the isolation that they experience in trying to access existing support groups for sexual assault and online peer support through civilian service providers. The specific military aspects of their experiences, the military culture, and the institutional response, have a significant impact on their lived experience, and they feel somewhat alienated in primarily civilian contexts where military culture is not well understood. This initiative fills a critical gap to support CAF members and Veterans who have experienced sexual misconduct during their service. It will increase awareness about resources and services available, increase participants’ sense of empowerment and self-efficacy, decrease isolation, stigma and shame, and contribute to their overall well-being and recovery.

Prevention research

To date, research within the CAF has not been conducted on those who commit sexual misconduct, and on factors associated with the commission of these acts. There is no reliable data on these individuals in the CAF and very little is known about them. This is both a research and a policy gap, which limits both response and prevention efforts. This initiative aims to better inform sexual misconduct prevention efforts by conducting research on the commission of sexual misconduct in the CAF and developing response frameworks, guidelines, and training curriculum better targeted at subgroups at higher risk for committing sexual misconduct and those responsible for managing sexual misconduct incidents.

Responsive legal options

The lack of access to free independent legal advice, and challenges associated with existing reporting mechanisms are important gaps in victim/survivor support and services provided by the SMRC and the CAF/DND as a whole. This initiative will develop a program to provide independent legal advice to victims of service offenses and examine alternative reporting options. The latter will need to be considered in the context of work being done by the new CPCC and the External Review by Mme Arbour, both of which seek to improve reporting processes.

Contribution/transfer payment program expansion

This initiative intends to address the limitations of the current contribution program by proposing new terms and conditions for a grant-based model of funding with expanded eligibility criteria to better reach underserved survivors in any region impacted by the presence of the CAF in Canada, and increasing the collaboration between community-based and CAF service providers. This initiative will transition the program from contribution-only funding to primarily grant-based funding; expand eligible recipients from sexual assault centres-only, to any community-based service providers that are able to support survivors, victims, and persons impacted by CAF sexual misconduct; and, expand geographic eligibility requirements beyond “close proximity to CAF bases with highest client base” to any region which is impacted by the presence of the CAF.

Expansion of the SMRC services

Budget 2021 expanded the SMRC’s mandate to now include former CAF members and civilian members of the Defence Team, in addition to CAF members. This expansion will allow the SMRC to reach more individuals within the broader Defence community to provide ongoing support services and allow for resources to be scaled to regional requirements. The expanded footprint of the RSC program to five regions across Canada, including locations in the National Capital Region (NCR)/Ontario, Quebec, Atlantic, Central and Pacific, as well as the expected increase in calls to the 24/7 support line, requires hiring of additional counsellors. There will also be a need to increase support personnel (for example, administrative, business management, project management) as the SMRC adds operational functions and modifies their organizational structure to meet the expanded mandate.

Conclusion

Over the SMRC’s first five years of operation, we have learned a great deal about structural, cultural, systemic, and individual factors that either contribute to the occurrence of sexual misconduct in the CAF or that negatively impact reporting, responding, and resolution after the fact. The tremendous support and commitment to achieving an environment free of sexual misconduct will continue to strengthen the SMRC’s resolve and ability to build upon our current body of knowledge, expertise and experience. Creating an environment that fosters talking about and understanding the causes and impacts of sexual misconduct will help change the culture that enables it.

For many reasons, 2020-2021 was a challenging year. As our mandate and services evolve as described herein, we will continue to strive to be evidence-informed, to consider and implement recommendations from formal reviews as well as advice from external subject matter experts, to seek input from those with lived experience, and to research and educate on all matters related to sexual misconduct.

We seek to adapt and continuously improve to ensure an efficient, effective and relevant response to sexual misconduct within the CAF. A busy year ahead, indeed. The SMRC team’s commitment, flexibility and responsiveness will undoubtedly help us rise to the challenges in 2021-2022 and beyond.

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