Ms. Gallant.
Evidence of meeting #23 for National Defence in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was clause.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #23 for National Defence in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was clause.
A recording is available from Parliament.
February 4th, 2026 / 4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Cheryl Gallant Conservative Algonquin—Renfrew—Pembroke, ON
I would be in favour of this amendment.
We had a private member's bill some years ago. It was put forth by Rona Ambrose. It was Bill C-337, known as the judicial accountability through sexual assault law training act. It took years to get it enacted and even more to get it implemented. If they have the training from the outset, it can be implemented sooner and can protect people who have already been victimized.
Liberal
Sherry Romanado Liberal Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC
Isn't that the same legislation the Conservatives voted against?
Liberal
Liberal
Sherry Romanado Liberal Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC
I know Rona did, but I remember there was some problem with it.
Anyway, I'm supporting this. We're curious as to whether it should be in legislation versus in policy. That's it.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Charles Sousa
Okay. If there's no further debate, we'll proceed to a vote.
(Amendment agreed to: yeas 9; nays 0 [See Minutes of Proceedings])
(Clause 9 as amended agreed to on division)
We're now on clause 9.1, and we have CPC-10.
Mr. Bezan, do you wish to move it?
Conservative
James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB
I shall move CPC-10, creating new clause 9.1.
Can I speak to it?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Charles Sousa
Since you've moved it, I have something to say, and then you can argue it.
Bill C-11 would amend the National Defence Act to provide that in the context of a service offence, an individual acting on behalf of a victim may request that a victim's liaison officer be appointed to assist them. The amendment seeks to extend this possibility to the accused.
As House of Commons Procedure and Practice, fourth edition, states in section 16.74, “An amendment to a bill that was referred to a committee after second reading is out of order if it is beyond the scope and principle of the bill.”
In the opinion of the chair, this is a new concept that goes beyond the scope of the bill. Therefore, I rule the amendment inadmissible.
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Charles Sousa
That brings it to a vote.
(Ruling of the chair overturned: nays 5; yeas 4)
Conservative
Conservative
James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
This was recommendation number seven from Afton David when she appeared at our 13th meeting. She said, “Seven, appoint an accused liaison officer, akin to a victim liaison officer, to coordinate between the accused, the chain of command and civilian processes.” She went on to say, “I think it would be a good first step as a liaison officer to have some sort of kind of requirement for communication between the civilian authorities and the military authorities in the chain of command, at the very least.” This is exactly what we tried to accomplish with the amendment that was drafted up.
Again, it comes down to some of the testimony we heard. Hélène Le Scelleur said, “Mandate rigorous, standardized, trauma-informed training across the system and introduce clear, enforceable consequences for senior leadership misconduct.”
It all ties together with supporting the victim and making sure that throughout the system, they have the freedom of choice on what system they're going into and that they're completely informed, as well as informing the chain of command back and forth by using liaison officers.
Conservative
James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB
It's for the accused as well. It's on both sides. It's for the victim and the accused. It has to be fairly balanced.
Liberal
Chris Malette Liberal Bay of Quinte, ON
Thank you.
Could I ask Colonel Lortie and Colonel MacMillan if any portion of this proposed section already resides in the National Defence Act? Is this not again covering ground that's already supported in the NDA?
Col Geneviève Lortie
An accused person, under the NDA, has defence counsel provided to them. They already provide that type of service, and already to a higher standard.
Where that motion is proposed to be added is under the Declaration of Victims Rights. The division explains that it's applied in respect of a victim of a service offence and their interaction within the military justice system.
That's the application of the division, the Declaration of Victims Rights, so I would suggest that adding an accused's rights under the Declaration of Victims Rights...could be placed somewhere else if it were to be introduced under the National Defence Act.