Today, current and former members of the Defence Team and Veterans who have experienced or been affected by sexual assault, sexual harassment and discrimination based on sex, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation received an apology from the institutions that failed to provide them with a safe and inclusive workplace.
The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence, apologized on behalf of the Government of Canada. General Wayne Eyre, Chief of the Defence Staff, apologized on behalf of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), and Jody Thomas, Deputy Minister of National Defence, apologized on behalf of the Department of National Defence (DND).
This apology acknowledged the suffering of members of our Defence Team and Veterans, the lived experience of those who have been impacted, and those who have come forward to share their experiences in the hopes of driving positive change. Today, the Government of Canada, the Canadian Armed Forces, and the Department of National Defence acknowledged responsibility for their failure to effectively prevent sexual misconduct and discrimination based on sex, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation. These institutions re-stated today their commitment to positive culture change, strengthening accountability mechanisms, and providing a safe and inclusive workplace. The Defence Team will continue to undertake critical work to restore trust and repair harm for those who have been impacted.
Everyone will process the apology in their own way and in their own time. The apology may evoke strong emotional responses either in the moment or later on. Should you or someone you know have experienced an incident of sexual misconduct, there are resources available to support current and former members of the Defence Team. The Sexual Misconduct Response Centre
