Concept of Discredit

Topic

Concept of Discredit

Case number

• 2013-055 (F&R Date: 2013–10–08)

Description

Existing policies and directives, notably articles 19.14 and 19.42 of the Queen’s Regulations and Orders for the Canadian Forces, accord almost absolute discretion to a Commanding Officer in determining the potential for injury to the interests of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and whether a CAF member’s civilian job, personal activities or comments might bring discredit on the CAF. Such broad discretion opens the door to arbitrary and possibly divergent, unjust or disproportionate decisions by different Commanding Officers. What may be deemed unacceptable by one Commanding Officer may be perfectly acceptable to another, thus resulting in inequitable treatment. 

Recommendation

The Committee recommended that the Chief of the Defence Staff order a review of the applicable policies and directives in order to provide guidelines on the concept of discredit. 
 

 

Final Authority Decision

The CDS rejected the systemic recommendation concerning a review of the policies and directives with respect to the concept of discredit on the basis that there are no indications that a systemic problem remains regarding the interpretation of this concept.  The CDS nonetheless sent this recommendation to the Chief of Military Personnel for his analysis.