Evidence of meeting #20 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 ombudsman.
A video is available from Parliament.
1:45 p.m.
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Okay.
Do you know if the victim talked to Adm McDonald about this?
1:45 p.m.
LCdr Raymond Trotter
Again, I don't feel I'm in a position to state whether she did or did not because I would have to refer that again to the national investigation service.
1:45 p.m.
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Okay.
Can you tell me if the victim has ever had any discussions with the Minister of National Defence or a member of his staff?
1:45 p.m.
LCdr Raymond Trotter
Sir, as it was related to me, no, she did not, and in reporting to the chain of command, likely I was her first point of contact because she trusted me.
1:45 p.m.
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Did you at any time have a discussion directly with the Minister of National Defence?
1:45 p.m.
LCdr Raymond Trotter
No, sir.
1:45 p.m.
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Have you tried to speak directly to the minister?
I understand there have been discussions with members of his office, but have you approached the minister directly?
1:45 p.m.
LCdr Raymond Trotter
Sir, I believe at my rank and pay level I made my best attempts to get it up to as high as possible.
As I said in my earlier statement, I felt I had been running in circles all day and that I had the appropriate—
1:50 p.m.
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
So the answer is no.
I apologize, LCdr Trotter. I don't mean to rush you, but we don't have a lot of time. I understand that you haven't taken any steps, other than with the office, and therefore you haven't approached the minister.
To your knowledge, the victim also never approached the minister to discuss the situation, nor a member of the minister's office. Is that correct?
1:50 p.m.
LCdr Raymond Trotter
No, sir.
1:50 p.m.
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Thank you, LCdr Trotter.
We have seen in the media that you've been threatened as a result of your disclosure. I'd like you to expand on that a little bit. What exactly happened?
I believe there was an attempt to prevent you from pursuing further with the minister or his office. Is that correct?
1:50 p.m.
LCdr Raymond Trotter
Sir, with respect to the threats, it is my understanding, again, that these incidents are under investigation by the Canadian Forces national investigation service. I don't think it's appropriate for me at this point to speak further about the matter as a participant in the investigation.
1:50 p.m.
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
When did the events that are the subject of this investigation occur?
On what date specifically did they occur?
1:50 p.m.
LCdr Raymond Trotter
Maybe I don't understand the question. Could you rephrase it?
1:50 p.m.
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
You received threats that are currently under investigation. You say that you can't provide details. I respect that.
My question is this: On what date were the threats in question made?
1:50 p.m.
LCdr Raymond Trotter
It was on March 4, sir.
1:50 p.m.
LCdr Raymond Trotter
No, sir.
1:50 p.m.
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
So there's only one investigation under way about this, and it's an investigation of events that took place on March 4, 2021. Is that correct?
1:50 p.m.
LCdr Raymond Trotter
Yes, sir.
1:50 p.m.
Liberal
March 12th, 2021 / 1:50 p.m.
NDP
Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC
Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
Of course, I want to start by giving my thanks to Lieutenant-Commander Trotter for appearing before us today and also for his many years of service. He does exemplify what we all hope to see from members of the Canadian Forces when it comes to attacking this problem of a culture that tolerates sexual misconduct.
I extend a very sincere thanks to you.
Again, in committee today we're getting into the narrative, which disturbs me, because it is knocking on the wrong door.
I have a question for Lieutenant-Commander Trotter.
Have you had discussions with others who had the same problem that you had in attempting to report incidents of sexual misconduct—in other words, that it's difficult to know where to take those?
Have you had discussions with others who found the same problem?
1:50 p.m.
LCdr Raymond Trotter
I don't think I've had discussions with people who have had difficulty reporting. Potentially, they don't know who to report to or where to turn. Maybe they feel pressure not to but, again, I can't get inside the heads of people who want to report because it's difficult from the outset for somebody who has been the victim of something like that.
I'm going to leave it at that, sir.
