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Military aims for victory over misconduct with ‘irreversible’ changes in five years

Dec 16, 2021 | 1:25 PM

OTTAWA — The senior officer tasked with changing the Canadian military’s culture says victory will look like “irreversible positive changes” within the next five years.

Lt.-Gen. Jennie Carignan laid out her conditions for success during an update on the nine months since she was appointed the Canadian Armed Forces’ first-ever chief of professional conduct and culture.

Carignan says she and her team of around 200 have been working on a number of new initiatives to tackle sexual misconduct and hate in the ranks while awaiting the results of an independent review by retired Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour.

Those initiatives include consultations with Armed Forces members and civilian counterparts in the Defence Department, as well as changes to the military’s promotion system and recruit training.

Carignan says the ultimate goal is to make sure all military members and civilian defence officials feel safe showing up to work every day. 

Carignan was joined by Denise Preston, the head of the Defence Department’s sexual misconduct response centre, which has been steadily expanding its mandate and services to victims.  

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 16, 2021.

The Canadian Press