QUESTION PERIOD — Ministry of National Defence
Violence against Women
November 1, 2023
Welcome. Thank you for joining us today, Minister Blair. For decades, as you know, governments have pointed to the need to address violence against women as an impetus for criminal legislation that too often results in making sentences longer, harsher and more punitive. These approaches have not meaningfully prevented violence against women, including in the military.
What concrete measures has the government taken to implement the Calls for Justice of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls inquiry, as well as the recommendations of the Mass Casualty Commission and the Arbour report on sexual misconduct in the military? How will the government seek to address and redress the root causes of violence against women? What is the timeline for the full implementation of these recommendations?
Senator, if I may, I can speak a bit more fulsomely to the 48 recommendations of Justice Arbour. We have been working very closely with her. As a matter of fact, a few weeks ago, within my own office, I onboarded someone who is solely dedicated to the implementation of those recommendations.
Of course, we’re also working very closely with the Canadian Armed Forces, or CAF, including the Chief of Defence Staff, or CDS, and General Carignan, who has that responsibility within CAF. I believe we’ve made some very significant progress. For example, one of the most important recommendations made by Justice Arbour was to have sexual assault investigations done by police in the jurisdiction, not by the military police, and that those matters would be then prosecuted, if they result in prosecution, in the criminal justice system.
By ministerial directive, my predecessor directed that all of those cases would be forwarded to the criminal justice system, and that has been done.
I’ve been working closely on drafting a new legislative amendment that will bring about that change and institutionalize it to permanently establish Madam Justice Arbour’s recommendation number 5 within the Canadian Armed Forces. I hope to be able to bring forward that work, first of all, to my cabinet — I can’t get ahead of them — and, ultimately, after cabinet approval, to bring forward legislation at the earliest opportunity. I’m very hopeful to have that done before —
In fact, you got ahead of me, and you know my supplementary question. Part of the reason Madam Justice Arbour recommended the transfer and why she wanted legislation is the fact that many civilian police forces have refused to act upon those cases that have been referred.
Can you share any further information about the type of legislation you’re proposing and how it will ensure that civilian forces have to take seriously the reports that are put in by the military?
I spoke with the Solicitor General of Canada and more recently with the Solicitor General of Ontario, and I have the latter’s commitment that Ontario police services will conduct those investigations. In some of the jurisdictions where there is a relatively small police service adjacent to a military base, that could present some resource challenges. I’ve undertaken to work with them to address them. I also believe, senator, that when we make legislative changes to the National Defence Act, it will articulate who is responsible for these investigations. A number of other important steps also exist.
Making sure that victims of sexual assault and sexual harassment have access to strong victim support services is also critical. Whether or not they choose to pursue an investigation, I believe it’s important to make sure that those services will be available to every member of the Armed Forces when they —
Thank you, minister.
