Ottawa delivers long-awaited apology to victims of military sex misconduct
CTV
The federal government sought to emerge from a dark period in the Canadian Armed Forces' legacy on Monday as political and military leaders delivered a long-awaited apology to victims of military sexual misconduct.
Streamed online from National Defence Headquarters, the apology followed the federal government's $600-million settlement with tens of thousands of current and former Armed Forces members who experienced such behaviour while serving.
It also came as the Liberal government and military leadership face questions and criticism over their perceived failure to address allegations of inappropriate -- and criminal -- sexual misconduct among some of the military's top leaders.
Defence Minister Anita Anand led the 40-minute apology, delivered alongside chief of the defence staff Gen. Wayne Eyre and Defence Department deputy minister Jody Thomas. Anand acknowledged successive governments had failed to protect those who willingly signed up to protect Canada
"I apologize to the thousands of Canadians who were harmed because your government did not protect you, nor did we ensure that the right systems were in place to ensure justice and accountability," she said during the event, which at one point was being watched by about 8,000 people.
