In 2016 I started reporting how the chain of command and military justice system let down victims, and allowed perpetrators to avoid criminal charges, plead out or be protected at work. It's 2021. We are still having the same conversations like the 2016/17 stuff never happened
When I first started reporting I got angry calls from the highest levels of the Canadian Armed Forces telling me I was "hurting" the troops and the institution.
Will put together another spread sheet - the ideal Gen Vance told me he had when he created the admin system to deal with sexual misconduct was to fill the gaps where the military justice system wasn't working and that he couldn't change (JAG reports to political authorities)
Anybody watching the system has known where the problems are. This isn't a secret. We as the media haven't done a good enough job of keeping our eye on this ball since 2016 and I put myself on the top of that list of not good enough.
What has become more apparent was the duality of the system - the aggressive action taken against junior ranks while top brass conducted themselves to a very different standard. It is part of why troops saw Op Honour as illegitimate. The Chain of Command continued to fail victims
I hope for the sake of the victims who I have spoken with over the past 5 years that change comes. That something finally changes. I'll wait and watch to see what action there is, and no we won't stop telling their stories.
I would also say that what I have heard from many victims is that this is not just about a culture around sex or sexual misconduct - that it is about toxic power dynamics. The military by its nature has to have strong power dynamics and command but the abuse of it is the issue.
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PM Trudeau says that nobody in his office or the Defence Minister's office knew that the complaint against General Vance was "a Me Too" complaint. On Friday Elder Marques, formerly of PMO, testified he felt it was likely sexual and serious (but did not have solid knowledge).
PM Trudeau gives extensive answer, says the govt is deeply committed to change on this issue. Defends how his office and MND's office handled the issue. PM Trudeau does not answer the question from @mikelecouteur on whether his Chief of Staff, Katie Telford, should have told him.
Mike follows up asking how disappointed the PM is that he did not learn about this concern until this year. "Katie's leadership... is why we call ourselves a feminist govt" re: Katie Telford.
Elder Marques, former senior advisor to Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau is now testifying about what he knew about the allegations against Vance in 2018
@JustinTrudeau#BREAKING Elder Marques just revealed the Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, Katie Telford, was aware there were allegations against General Jonathan Vance
Marques says he has no recollection of briefing the Prime Minister on the allegations against Vance or knowledge of anyone else briefing the Prime Minister.
I asked PM Trudeau and DPM Trudeau about Liberal MPs shutting down the committee that was looking into military sexual misconduct and about the message that sends... as well as why 10+ weeks into this story we don't have any info on the external probe or watchdog (1/3) #cdnpoli
The federal budget set aside $ to deal with military sexual misconduct including setting up an independent watchdog (no info on if it reports to Parliament), providing independent legal advice to victims and making the JAG system to "better respond to allegations of misconduct"
PM and DPM gave no specifics on what the probe will involve, when it might be announced, or a timeline for action. Said committee acted independently. Reiterated commitment to action and need for change but no details on what that looks like or when.
Global News did not ask DND for permission for women to speak. We asked the women.
Unclear to me how CFNIS & JAG would have been consulted abt 3 cases where there was *no* investigation prior to our reporting, they learned about allegations from our show cbc.ca/news/politics/…
Several women we spoke to also made it clear they did not trust CFNIS and JAG in handling sexual misconduct cases. There is an irony that they should be the deciding authority on whether women get to come forward...
Also worth discussing - CFNIS and the JAG's record on handling sexual misconduct and sexual assault. The concern about plea bargains, dropped charged etc led to the administrative changes Vance introduced to kick people out.
Former Clerk of the Privy Council Michael Wernick admits that PCO lost sight of the questions about allegations against Vance. They were looking at massive turn over at the upper ranks of the military and Vance's "ambition" to become top NATO General.
Wernick says PCO never closed file looking into allegations against Vance but reached "an impasse" determining it would be inappropriate to confront Vance, there were not witnesses (although they hadn't interviewed anybody to determine this) and victim didn't want to come forward
Wernick says in hindsight more could have been done and he regrets that this issue fell off the radar. He says that Minister Sajjan was in fact involved in discussions about Vance's term, that Wernick and Sajjan had those conversations.
Today Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan's former Chief of Staff Zita Astravas had been called to testify at the defence committee loking into sexual misconduct in the CAF. Instead of Astravas, Minister Sajjan is appearing. #cdnpoli#CAF
Astravas was the staffer who contacted PCO about the allegations against Vance in 2018.
Opposition MPs say that Liberals are "ignoring the house" and "contemptuous" for substituting the Minister for the former Chief of Staff.
NDP MP @r_garrison says he looks forward to speaking about the concept of ministerial responsibility with Minister Sajjan since he is pointing to that to justify staff not appearing, there are questions on ministerial responsibility after Sajjan refused to accept evidence