Ottawa lacks an 'overall strategic plan' to tackle military sexual misconduct, report says

While she's seen a "palpable change"in the Canadian military's attitude towardsexual misconduct, anexternal observer hired to overseea plan to change the military's culture says Ottawa lacks a comprehensive strategy to accomplish that.

The government appointed Jocelyne Therrien last year to supervise the implementation of the 48 recommendations informer Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour's reporton sexual harassment and misconduct in the military.

Therrien, who once led program audits at the office ofthe Auditor General of Canada,recently released her first status report. In it, she concludes thatthe military and the Department of National Defence (DND)don't have an "overall strategic plan" in place.

"Although I have seen some cross-referencing among the recommendations, there is no overall framework that sets out how the organization, as a whole, will move from one phase to the next," Therrien wrote.

"Does this mean that there is no progress? Not at all. Many individuals are working hard to achieve the individual steps required to meet the intent of the recommendations. But an overall strategic plan would serve to ensure that the resources are aligned to priorities."

The report says it's "incumbent" on DNDto "at least have a plan" laying out the legislative changes it will propose to Parliament each year.

"It appears at this point that the agenda is instead being driven by availability of resources and capacity issues," the report says.

Vice Chief of Defence StaffLt.-Gen. Frances Allen told CBC News the report "highlights the work that we've been doing to date and ithighlighted what we also knew that we have to do more in taking that strategic move forward."

She said the military intends to "build that plan."

"Ithink we've seen some progressbut there's just so much to do."

Allen said the Canadian Armed Forces "can't tackle everything at once" so CAF is reviewing the recommendations in the report along with another report onreforming the military justice systemand the results of a ministerial advisory panel on systemic racismtofind common themes and set priorities.

The military is trying to move past its sexual misconduct crisis. Since early February 2021, roughly a dozensenior Canadian military officers, current and former,have been sidelined, investigated or forced into retirement from some of the most powerful and prestigious posts in the military.

The government tasked Arbour with reviewing the crisis. Her report, released just over a year ago, concluded the top ranks of the military are "incapable" of recognizing "deficient" aspects of military culture that "facilitated the abuse of power that characterizes most sexual misconduct."

Arbour made sweeping recommendations chief among them her call for the military to surrender investigations of sexual misconduct to the civilian police and courts system. As of last month, the military had transferred93 possible cases of criminal sexual offences to civilian police.

Arbour also recommendedappointing an external monitor to oversee the implementation of her recommendations.

WATCH/ Is the military capable of changing how it handles sexual misconduct?

Is the military capable of changing how it handles sexual misconduct?

2 years ago

Duration 8:47

WARNING: This video contains distressing details. Former Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour and Catherine Bergeron, who experienced sexual harassment while serving in the military, discuss whether the Canadian Armed Forces will be able to change how it treats women, especially those who experience sexual misconduct.

Therrienwrote in her report that she spoke with military and DND leaders tasked with culture change in the course of her work.

"During the last several months," she said, "I have witnessed a significant level of tangible activity" in response to Arbour'srecommendations.

Therrienpointed to thecreation of a new military office Chief Professional Conduct and Culture,led by Lt.-Gen. Jennie Carignan that provides advice to unit commanders on how to handle sexual misconduct cases.

"Ultimately, however, the proof will be in the frequency of incidents and whether or not DND employees and CAF members see improvements," she wrote.

"It is too soon to tell if that is happening. The data that will be used to monitor the situation is being refined."

Therrien said she's now going to try to determine if Ottawa's efforts are having an impacton the ground before issuing a secondreport.

In a statement, DND said it "absolutely" agrees with the report's "observation that more and better planning is needed to sequence and prioritize ongoing and future work."

The department said theChief Professional Conduct and Cultureis continuing to "develop comprehensive implementation plans in consultation with stakeholders."

Defence Minister Anita Anand's office told CBC News the minister provided a "comprehensive roadmap" to Parliament in December 2022 that "outlines our way forward on culture change" and Arbour's recommendations.