NDP statement on Vice-Admiral Edmunson

The NDP Critic for Defense, Lindsay Mathyssen, made the following statement:

“The allegations of sexual assault against Vice-Admiral Haydn Edmundson—the man who was in charge of human resources for the military— are the latest in a long line of disturbing reports against the top brass in the Canadian Armed Forces. The news that he will be charged comes just hours after media reported that rape allegations within the military were ignored and dismissed because the accused refused to address them. It is absolutely shameful that survivors have been denied justice and that the government has done so little to ensure service women and men had a system and process that they can trust when reporting abuse.

The Liberal government has failed service women by neglecting to address the pervasive, toxic culture in the military that they have known about for years. This government’s handling of sexual assault in the military is nothing short of a national embarrassment.

The Liberal’s failure to do anything besides commission reports, has shown survivors that their reports are not taken seriously when they come forward, and many are understandably afraid to speak out against high-ranking members.

It is not enough for the Prime Minster to change the minister in charge of this file or ask for more reports.

The Prime Minister needs to take concrete steps to support the women who have been hurt by his government’s inaction. He can start by implementing the recommendations from the Deschamps report which he has been ignoring for six years.

New Democrats will not back down until all women in the armed forces are able to serve equally.”