The public becoming aware of sexual misconduct charges is fuelling a crisis in the country’s military, says Canadian Armed Forces Ombudsman Gregory Lick..Blacklock’s Reporter said Wednesday Lick’s office has 687 outstanding grievances in the Canadian Armed Forces and Department of National Defence including complaints dating back “four to nine years.”.“There is a crisis of trust within the military in terms of, are people going to be treated fairly?” Lick told the Commons defence committee..“That is the core part of our mandate.”.Lick’s testimony followed General (Ret’d) Jonathan Vance’s March 30 guilty plea to obstruction of justice in a misconduct case involving sexual relations with a subordinate..Lick complained the military’s public profile was damaged..“Why do you think people are leaving the military?” asked Conservative MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay (South Surrey-White Rock, BC)..“The misconduct crisis that is clearly in the news and continues to be in the news is certainly causing people to lose trust,” replied Lick..“We are all aware of the culture crisis the Canadian Armed Forces and Department of National Defence now suffer. Stories about misconduct continue to drive the news cycles.”.“As a result we know that talented, well-trained people have left the Canadian Armed Forces because they were directly affected by these stories, or as a result of how the military responded to them. Though difficult to measure, this has likely affected recruitment as well. The overall culture in the military, including its initiatives to promote inclusion and diversity within its ranks, continues to suffer.”.The military has targeted an increase in the number of women in the CAF from 15% to 25% by 2026..Public perception is key, staff wrote in a 2021 report..“The intent is to demonstrate what life in the Canadian Armed Forces is like for women, how their skills and experiences are transferable to careers outside the Forces and what it takes to become successful in their field,” said a department report..The Canadian Armed Forces also set 2026 targets to raise the number of indigenous members from 2.8% to 5% and visible minorities from eight percent to 12%.
The public becoming aware of sexual misconduct charges is fuelling a crisis in the country’s military, says Canadian Armed Forces Ombudsman Gregory Lick..Blacklock’s Reporter said Wednesday Lick’s office has 687 outstanding grievances in the Canadian Armed Forces and Department of National Defence including complaints dating back “four to nine years.”.“There is a crisis of trust within the military in terms of, are people going to be treated fairly?” Lick told the Commons defence committee..“That is the core part of our mandate.”.Lick’s testimony followed General (Ret’d) Jonathan Vance’s March 30 guilty plea to obstruction of justice in a misconduct case involving sexual relations with a subordinate..Lick complained the military’s public profile was damaged..“Why do you think people are leaving the military?” asked Conservative MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay (South Surrey-White Rock, BC)..“The misconduct crisis that is clearly in the news and continues to be in the news is certainly causing people to lose trust,” replied Lick..“We are all aware of the culture crisis the Canadian Armed Forces and Department of National Defence now suffer. Stories about misconduct continue to drive the news cycles.”.“As a result we know that talented, well-trained people have left the Canadian Armed Forces because they were directly affected by these stories, or as a result of how the military responded to them. Though difficult to measure, this has likely affected recruitment as well. The overall culture in the military, including its initiatives to promote inclusion and diversity within its ranks, continues to suffer.”.The military has targeted an increase in the number of women in the CAF from 15% to 25% by 2026..Public perception is key, staff wrote in a 2021 report..“The intent is to demonstrate what life in the Canadian Armed Forces is like for women, how their skills and experiences are transferable to careers outside the Forces and what it takes to become successful in their field,” said a department report..The Canadian Armed Forces also set 2026 targets to raise the number of indigenous members from 2.8% to 5% and visible minorities from eight percent to 12%.
