OTTAWA -- Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan says he鈥檚 committed to swift action on the promise of widespread culture change within the Canadian Armed Forces following allegations of misconduct against two top military officials.
In an interview on CTV鈥檚 Question Period with host Evan Solomon, Sajjan said the Forces need to start "preventing" these kinds of events, rather than "reacting" to them.
Sajjan announced Wednesday evening that Admiral Art McDonald was "voluntarily" stepping aside as Canada鈥檚 chief of defence staff, while a military police investigation into unspecified allegations of misconduct against him is ongoing. Sajjan appointed Lt.-Gen. Wayne Eyre as acting chief of the defence staff in the interim.
There is also a separate investigation into McDonald鈥檚 predecessor, Jonathan Vance, who McDonald replaced just six weeks ago. Following Vance鈥檚 retirement, military police launched an investigation into his alleged inappropriate conduct while in uniform that 麻豆传媒 has not independently verified. Vance has denied wrongdoing.
"The key most important piece of this is this, when you learn something, do you take action?" said Sajjan. "Regardless of rank, or your position, regardless of [whether] you鈥檙e at the top or you鈥檙e a corporal, we will take everything seriously."
Questions have been raised as to when Sajjan and his office were made aware of the allegations against McDonald. He offered more clarity on Sunday鈥檚 episode, stating that he was informed following the "change of command."
McDonald was selected to take on his new role on Dec. 23, and he was later sworn in on Jan. 14, using his first address to apologize to Forces members who have faced discrimination or harassment while serving.
"That鈥檚 what I鈥檓 trying to emphasize here, when we learn of something we take immediate and strong action, but it was definitely after the change of command," he said.
Sajjan added that a review of the vetting process for leadership positions will be undertaken as part of the overall culture shift.
"When it comes to creating that culture change, the time for patience is over."
The House of Commons National Defence Committee has also begun its own study into 鈥渁ddressing sexual misconduct issues in the Canadian Armed Forces鈥� and the investigations are reviving conversations about the need for external oversight of the military.
Sajjan repeated that the investigation underway by the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service (CFNIS) is already 鈥渋ndependent鈥� because while the military police does report to the vice chief of the defence staff, the CFNIS does not.
"They鈥檙e actually independent of the chain of command when it comes to investigations. Having said this, I will be reviewing all the independence of things to see what the process is," he said.
In a separate interview on CTV鈥檚 Question Period, Conservative Leader Erin O鈥橳oole 鈥� a former Air Force navigator鈥� echoed the need to keep the inquiry completely separate from the organization, as was done with the investigation into workplace culture at Rideau Hall by The Quintet Consulting Corporation.
"The chief of defence staff is a very important institution within Canada, within our Armed Forces, that鈥檚 why we need to take these investigations outside," he said.
"As a veteran, I am proud of the Canadian Armed Forces and I want it to be that beacon for everyone."
With files from 麻豆传媒鈥� Rachel Aiello
