Consultations
The Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) organized consultations to gather feedback on the planning and delivery of an apology for current and past experiences of systemic racism, racial discrimination and racial harassment in the CAF.
Consultation details
Four consultation sessions were held in January and February 2025 with people with lived experience, including former CAF members, and academic experts. Participants in the consultations brought up a range of issues and considerations that informed early planning to approach the apology in a trauma-informed and culturally sensitive manner.
Findings from consultation organized by theme
Language considerations
There were extensive discussions around appropriate language for the apology, particularly concerning how to refer to various groups.
- Discussions emphasized the need to select terminology with the intention to represent individuals’ varying backgrounds as best as possible, while considering any limitations.
- There were concerns about using blanket terms such as “Indigenous people” and it was confirmed that a distinctions-based approach would be used. This allows the prioritization of representation, inclusion, and diversity for those who have faced racial discrimination and racial harassment.
- Some participants suggested avoiding using specific cultural group terms to prevent further division and focus on the systemic nature of racism, while others stressed the importance of acknowledging specific groups and their unique experiences with racism in the apology.
Scope and inclusivity
A key theme was determining who should receive the apology and how to be inclusive.
- Some participants suggested the apology should be broad to include anyone affected by systemic racism, while others believed it should be more targeted to specific groups.
- There were discussions about whether the apology should include families of those affected, with some suggesting this be considered, especially in cases where the impact of racism had significant intergenerational effects.
- The challenge of balancing inclusivity without diluting the meaningfulness of the apology was raised as a concern.
Delivery and format of the apology
Participants discussed how the apology should be delivered and structured for maximum impact.
- There were suggestions for multiple speakers to provide context, including historical context, with emphasis on the importance of these speakers having credibility and being well-respected within their communities.
- A key point of concern was who should deliver the apology, with some participants suggesting that it should be someone with lived experience of racism, and others stating that it should be the CAF’s current leadership (CDS and CAF Chief Warrant Officer) to emphasize accountability.
- The importance of the apology being more than a “one-and-done” event was highlighted, with suggestions for follow-up actions, ongoing conversations, and integrating the apology into education and training within the CAF.
- Some participants suggested that the apology should be delivered in multiple locations or with simultaneous events across the country to allow for broad reach and personal connection.
Sincerity, authenticity, and action
Consultation participants wanted to emphasize that the apology must be perceived as sincere and lead to tangible change.
- Many participants emphasized that the apology must be accompanied by concrete actions and accountability measures to address systemic racism within the CAF.
- The concern that the apology might be seen as performative or tokenism was raised, with a strong call for it to be a genuine step towards reconciliation.
- Participants stressed that the apology should acknowledge past harms, and outline plans for future change, including changes to policies, training, and culture.
Challenges and complexities
The consultations highlighted the many challenges and complexities involved in addressing systemic racism.
- There were discussions about the need to balance addressing the harm caused by racism without causing further harm or division.
- The complexities of intersectionality, including how to acknowledge and address the various ways in which racism intersects with other identities (e.g., gender, sexual orientation), were discussed extensively.
- There were concerns about how to respond to potential backlash or politicization of the apology.
- The challenge of acknowledging individual experiences of racism while also addressing systemic issues was a recurring theme.