Statement from Minister Blair on the Second Biannual Report of External Monitor Jocelyne Therrien

The Minister of National Defence, the Honourable Bill Blair, issued the following statement today regarding the External Monitor’s second status report on the implementation of the recommendations of the Independent External Comprehensive Review (IECR).

November 20, 2023 – Ottawa, ON – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

The Minister of National Defence, the Honourable Bill Blair, issued the following statement today regarding the External Monitor’s second status report on the implementation of the recommendations of the Independent External Comprehensive Review (IECR):

“Across our country, people rely on the Canadian Armed Forces to keep them safe and protected. We have an obligation to build a safe, respectful, and professional workplace for our people – and Madame Louise Arbour’s 48 recommendations gave us a clear pathway forward to do exactly that.

“Since the release of Madame Arbour’s report, the Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces have made meaningful progress. We must keep going. Since my appointment as Minister this summer, we have reached some key milestones.

“On August 15, I confirmed that Canadian Armed Forces members who have experienced sexual harassment, sexual misconduct or any other form of discrimination based on sex/gender while performing their duties can choose to bring their complaint directly to the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC), in accordance with Madame Arbour’s Recommendations 7 and 9. On August 30, I announced that we have initiated the repeal of the counterintuitive Duty to Report regulations, in accordance with Madame Arbour’s Recommendation 11. That repeal will take effect this winter. And, on October 5, we launched a new online database to make Defence conduct and culture research and policies more open and accessible, in accordance with Madame Arbour’s Recommendation 45. This builds upon the work of my predecessor, Anita Anand.

“There is more work to do, and we are pursuing it with resolve. The report by External Monitor Jocelyne Therrien released today provides an independent, external, and impartial overview of the work that we have done, and the work that remains. I thank Madame Therrien for providing updates on the implementation of all 48 recommendations – and for her comprehensive input.

“As the External Monitor stated in her first report, an ‘overall strategic plan’ is crucial to success. In addition to the Report to Parliament that Minister Anand presented in December 2022, we have a comprehensive and multi-year implementation plan with specific timelines and measures for each recommendation, including and especially Recommendation 5. I intend to provide more information about that plan shortly.

“Regarding Recommendation 5, let me be clear: I am finalizing plans to implement Madame Arbour’s recommendation 5 as quickly as possible. We have engaged collaboratively with provinces and territories, and in the coming months, we will take measures to implement recommendation 5 by removing military jurisdiction over Criminal Code sexual offences.

“We are working vigorously on all remaining recommendations. In the coming days, I will announce the members of the Canadian Military College Review Board, in accordance with Recommendations 28 and 29. The seven-member board will be chaired by an independent, external education specialist, with four external members from outside the Defence Team, a CAF senior officer and a public service executive.

“By the end of this year, I expect that we will have implemented almost half of Madame Arbour’s 48 recommendations, with work to implement the remaining half underway.

“Let me once again thank the External Monitor, Madame Jocelyne Therrien, for her comprehensive assessment of our progress and remaining work. Madame Therrien’s objective oversight is helping us to build a safe and inclusive Canadian Armed Forces, where harassment and discrimination have no place.”

Quick facts

• Since Madame Arbour’s interim recommendation to transfer the prosecution and investigation of Criminal Code sexual offences from the military justice system to the civilian justice system was accepted, 100% of Criminal Code sexual offence charges are now being laid in the civilian justice system. No new sexual Criminal Code offence charges are being adjudicated in the military justice system. Military Police, under the direction of the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal, also continue to work to refer applicable cases to civilian policing partners for investigation. We will soon be announcing measures to conclusively implement Recommendation 5.
• As noted by the External Monitor, we have implemented several of the recommendations concerning the Sexual Misconduct Support and Resource Centre (SMSRC), including the reimbursement of eligible legal costs incurred by those who have been affected by sexual misconduct, retroactive to 2019. We continue to expand support programs to provide more offerings, such as formal group peer support sessions, and increase the reach of services both geographically and by expanding to include others within the wider Defence community.
• We are also now expediting grievances specifically related to sexual misconduct by referring them directly to the Military Grievance External Review Committee to ensure they are addressed promptly and to reduce harmful repercussions that flow from incidents of sexual misconduct.
• With respect to IECR recommendations on military training and professional education, which play a critical role in culture change, we have taken important steps to improve the overall quality of instruction and will continue to invest in this objective. The Canadian Defence Academy, which is responsible for professional development in the CAF, has adopted a new approach based on an extensive literature review and input from academics. This approach will ensure CAF members are receiving essential training in concepts, such as conflict management, workplace harassment and violence, and diversity, equity and inclusion.
• The Canadian Armed Forces have also adopted a character-based leadership model, which informs our evaluation and promotion processes.

Contacts

Diana Ebadi
Press Secretary and Communications Advisor
Office of the Minister of National Defence
Email: diana.ebadi@forces.gc.ca

Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-904-3333
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca