Two senior army leaders went {golfing} with the previous chief of defence workers Gen. Jonathan Vance final week whereas he is on the centre of a army police investigation for allegations of inappropriate behaviour involving feminine subordinates.
The vice-chief of the defence workers, Mike Rouleau, and the pinnacle of the Royal Canadian Navy, Vice-Admiral Craig Baines, met with Vance on June 2 on the Hylands Golf and Nation Membership in Ottawa, stated a senior defence official talking on the situation they not be named as a result of they weren’t approved to talk publicly.
Rouleau’s choice to go {golfing} with Vance comes after witness testimony raised issues a couple of sexist double-standard on fraternization at a parliamentary committee reviewing sexual misconduct within the army. The testimony revealed instances the place ladies’s careers have been reduce quick whereas high-ranking male officers in comparable instances are allowed to hold on after being concerned in the identical behaviour.
Todd Lane, press secretary for the defence minister, stated Harjit Sajjan was not conscious the three people went {golfing} till this afternoon following media inquiries.
“The choice by LGen Rouleau and VAdm Baines to go {golfing} with Gen Vance is troubling and unacceptable,” stated Lane in an announcement. “The Minister will talk about subsequent steps with Performing Chief of the Defence Workers.”
The Canadian Forces Nationwide Investigative Service (CFNIS) is investigating Vance for inappropriate relationships with two feminine subordinates. Vance has informed World Information he denies the allegations.
The CFNIS experiences on to the army’s provost marshal, which Rouleau has authority over.
‘We acknowledge the seriousness of the matter’
The Globe and Mail and World Information first reported on the meetup on the Ottawa golf course, described on the course’s web site as a “first-class golf venue” for Canadian Forces personnel and their households.
Neither the chief of defence workers, Lt.-Gen. Wayne Eyre, nor the deputy minister of Nationwide Defence, Jody Thomas, have been conscious of the golf recreation and realized from the media on Saturday, stated the official talking on background.
Jessica Lamirande, spokesperson for the Division of Nationwide Defence, stated “we’ve been made conscious that LGen Rouleau and VAdm Baines went {golfing} with Gen (Retired) Jonathan Vance.
“We acknowledge the seriousness of the matter and, as such, we are going to collect details and recommendation as a way to decide subsequent steps.”
The lady on the centre of Vance’s sexual misconduct case, Maj. Kellie Brennan, delivered bombshell testimony to a parliamentary committee in April. In it, she stated Vance thought of himself “untouchable” and that he fathered however doesn’t assist two of her youngsters.
Within the second case, Vance allegedly despatched a racy electronic mail nearly 9 years in the past to a different girl, who was a junior non-commissioned officer on the time.
An official stated Lt.-Gen. Rouleau was slated to transfer into a brand new place as a strategic advisor to Eyre subsequent month. Lt.-Gen. Frances Allen, is predicted to switch Rouleau and turn into the primary girl to function vice-chief of the defence workers.
CBC Information submitted a request for remark to Rouleau and Baines on Saturday evening however has not but acquired a response.
The army is within the midst of a disaster of management with greater than half a dozen senior officers swept up into the sexual misconduct disaster, together with Vance’s successor Admiral Artwork McDonald.
The federal government has tasked former Supreme Courtroom justice Louise Arbour with main an exterior overview of sexual harassment and misconduct within the army. The Division of Nationwide Defence additionally created a brand new place of “chief of conduct and professionalism”, now held by Lt.-Gen. Jennie Carignan.
A landmark overview by former Supreme Courtroom justice Morris Fish into the army’s judicial system discovered sexual assault and misconduct instances ought to be turned over to civilians within the interim till the army places in place extra protections for victims.
