Evidence of meeting #18 for National Defence in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was investigation.
A video is available from Parliament.
4:20 p.m.
Former Ombudsman, National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces, As an Individual
No, again, I thought it was a response to a request I had made for a meeting. I was going over under the premise that we were talking about a different subject.
4:20 p.m.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
When you got to the office and realized that this was not the reason you were there, things did not take long because you left immediately. Is that correct?
4:20 p.m.
Former Ombudsman, National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces, As an Individual
It was very short.
4:20 p.m.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Thank you, Mr. Walbourne.
Ms. May, would you like to ask one last question? You are one of the few women to be able to do so today.
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
4:20 p.m.
NDP
Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC
Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
I, too, once again, as we're nearing the end of this, want to express my great thanks to Mr. Walbourne, both for his previous service and for his forthrightness and frankness today.
I want to ask you to state something that may be very obvious, but it just occurred to me. Since you took along the evidence in written form to your meeting with the minister, did it ever occur to you that he might refuse to look at that evidence? Was that an expected behaviour from the minister?
4:20 p.m.
Former Ombudsman, National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces, As an Individual
No, I wasn't expecting that. That was a surprise.
4:20 p.m.
NDP
Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC
Did the minister cite any reason for not looking at that evidence, or can you think of any reason that he could have cited for not looking at that evidence?
4:20 p.m.
Former Ombudsman, National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces, As an Individual
No, he didn't, and no, I can't.
4:20 p.m.
NDP
Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC
Thank you for that.
In your work with those who brought forward complaints of sexual misconduct to your office—again, I'm probably asking you to state the obvious—is the reaction from this victim much the same as from others, that they are reluctant at the beginning to risk further damage, further reprisals in their military careers, until they have some assurances about the process?
4:20 p.m.
Former Ombudsman, National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces, As an Individual
That is one of the underlying fears, and probably the one that's most predominant. It's not only..... I would say that running neck and neck to that are the family consequences that come from it. Being a victim, you get victimized again in many places, and some of those are on the home front, sadly.
Yes, that is a major concern. The transparency and having it outside the chain of command is a real bone of contention.
4:25 p.m.
NDP
Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC
This complainant, if I understand you correctly, never said to you “I will never consent to letting my identity be known”, but said “I need some assurances about process.” Would that be a fair characterization of the position that this complainant was taking?
4:25 p.m.
Former Ombudsman, National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces, As an Individual
Yes, and it's the same characterization we get from most who approach. They want to talk first about the assurances of what is going to protect them.
4:25 p.m.
NDP
Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC
Then again, that makes good sense to me about why you're talking to the minister, among all of the other reasons to be talking to the minister, who is responsible for the discipline and good conduct of the Canadian Forces.
4:25 p.m.
NDP
4:25 p.m.
Liberal
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Did anyone other than the PCO ask you for the physical evidence?
4:25 p.m.
Former Ombudsman, National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces, As an Individual
No.
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
4:25 p.m.
Former Ombudsman, National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces, As an Individual
No.
