Military to set up independent review of sex assault allegation
By Giuseppe Valiante, National Bureau,
OTTAWA â The chief of the defence staff says the Canadian Forces will set up an external, independent review of the numerous allegations of sexual assault on Canadian military bases.
Military leaders told a parliamentary committee Tuesday they were shocked to learn of recent reports that sexual assault is pervasive in the Canadian Forces.
Chief of the Defence Staff Tom Lawson said so far no one has been found to lead the independent investigation.
"We are looking for a distinguished Canadian, hopefully with a judicial background, who would be willing to take this on," he said Tuesday.
Opposition parties grilled Lawson and several other military leaders over the Forces' perceived failure to create a safe environment for women.
"I am not impressed today whatsoever," Liberal MP Judy Sgro said of the military's record of protecting women.
Lawson said the military has made progress. He pointed to a 2012 internal military survey that found 98.5% of respondents said they hadn't been sexually assaulted.
"There is some heartening news (in the survey) that suggests that women are finding a nurturing workplace (in the Forces)," Lawson said.
A recent article in a Montreal-based news magazine revealed the military averaged 178 sexual assault complaints a year since 2000. The article says Statistics Canada believes 90% of sexual assaults go unreported in Canada, so there could be roughly five sexual assaults every day in the Armed Forces.
Since 1998, the military has implemented policy reforms and created new programs to change the culture, Lawson said.
Opposition Leader Thomas Mulcair said the team that will review the allegations must include civilians because the military shouldn't be investigating itself.
"The conflict of interest is evident," he said.
Chief of Defence Staff General Tom Lawson waits to testify before the Commons defence committee in Ottawa May 27, 2014.
REUTERS/Chris Wattie