NDP calling for action on Deschamps Report

New Democrats are calling for senior defence staff to appear at committee following last week’s shocking report from former Supreme Court Justice Marie Deschamps about sexual misconduct in the Canadian Armed Forces.

“Justice Deschamps’s report reveals a disturbing pattern of inappropriate and criminal behaviour within the military, with senior staff repeatedly failing to assist victims who came forward,” said NDP Defence critic Jack Harris (St. John’s East). “We need to hear from the Minister and senior officials about what immediate and substantive action is being taken to deal with these findings.”

The NDP has put a motion on notice to have Justice Deschamps, the Minister of National Defence and the Chief of the Defence Staff appear before the defence committee to answer questions about the report’s disturbing findings, and what the government is doing to implement all ten recommendations.

“We’re talking about the women and men who put their lives on the line every day for Canadians,” said NDP National Defence deputy critic Élaine Michaud (Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier). “This government needs to commit to profound change now by accepting all of Justice Deschamps’s recommendations.”