Scathing report addresses sexual offenses in Canadian military

TRENTON, Canada (AA) – Cases of sexual offenses in the Canadian Armed Forces should be heard by civilian courts, not military courts, said the author of a report released Monday

For the report, former Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour was asked to look into increasing incidents of sexual offenses in the senior ranks of Canada’s military.

The report, more than a year in the making, is a scathing indictment of rampant sexual misconduct that has gone unchecked and under-investigated in the Canadian military. Arbour’s report made 48 recommendations to restore trust in the military for victims of sexual misconduct, that of the rank and file, and the public at large.

The chief recommendation is that sexual offense cases be taken out of the hands of military courts and be tried in civilian courts exclusively.

Reported incidents of sexual offenses date back at least to the 1990s, but critics charge there has been little action to hold those responsible to account.

In the period beginning February 2021 alone, 13 high-ranking military officers have been accused of sexual offences. The charges have been investigated, resulting in some officers taking early retirement, while others were pushed out of command.

The number of cases created a crisis in the military and led to Arbour being asked to investigate and report on the situation.