Defence minister says military sexual misconduct cases will be handled by civilians
CTV
The federal government has accepted 'in full' retired Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour's call for the transfer of all criminal cases involving allegations of sexual misconduct in the military to civilian authorities, Defence Minister Anita Anand said Thursday.
The surprise announcement came shortly after The Canadian Press revealed Arbour's recommendation, which the former judge and UN high commissioner for human rights made last month in a letter written to Anand's predecessor, Harjit Sajjan.
The Liberal government tapped Arbour in April to lead a yearlong review of sexual misconduct in the Canadian Armed Forces and find ways to address it. Her appointment followed months of sexual misconduct allegations involving some of the military's top officers.
"I have accepted in full Madame Arbour's recommendations to move the investigation and prosecution of sexual misconduct cases to the civilian system," Anand wrote on Twitter, where she also posted a copy of Arbour's Oct. 20 letter to Sajjan.
"The Canadian Armed Forces are working with federal, provincial and territorial partners to implement these interim recommendations."
