Evidence of meeting #24 for Status of Women in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was assault.
A video is available from Parliament.
12:40 p.m.
Liberal
Salma Zahid Liberal Scarborough Centre, ON
Thank you, Ms. Raymond.
I know that the fear of repercussions at work is one of the barriers that individuals experience when they are trying to make up their minds whether to report sexual misconduct. What are some of the challenges with regard to confidentiality throughout the reporting process, and how would you recommend that we improve that process?
12:40 p.m.
As an Individual
Having a criminal act dealt with by police outside the Armed Forces would provide greater confidentiality. When you file a complaint in the military, everyone ends up knowing. It goes up the chain of command to the commander at the top, then it comes back down again. All your colleagues are aware, then you are judged, fingers are pointed at you and the unsavoury comments start coming. In addition, the attacker or the bully often has a higher rank, so you have not a lot of power. If you are not very important in a regiment, you are more easily sacrificed. The Army wants to keep those with most experience and they are the ones committing the misconduct.
In terms of confidentiality, having criminal acts investigated outside the Armed Forces would give the victims some protection. It's critical.
12:40 p.m.
Liberal
Salma Zahid Liberal Scarborough Centre, ON
How can we ensure that there is confidentiality throughout the reporting process? Are there any suggestions you have that you can give to us that can help us in making sure that there is confidentiality throughout the reporting process?
12:40 p.m.
As an Individual
If those in the military continue to investigate each other, I really have no hope of confidentiality. Moreover, it's not limited to military justice or the military police. I have experienced it in a medical situation too. Confidentiality is often violated.
So my only recommendation is for matters to be handled and examined by people who are not in the military. Now, I don't see why there would be breaches of confidentiality along those lines, but, if the military continues to head up the investigations, there will always be emails and phone calls spreading the news and the rumours, because that is the military world we are in.
12:40 p.m.
Liberal
Salma Zahid Liberal Scarborough Centre, ON
Before we end, are there any gaps that currently exist throughout your process based on your experience, and what do you think could be done better to close those gaps?
12:40 p.m.
Conservative
12:40 p.m.
Bloc
Andréanne Larouche Bloc Shefford, QC
Once again, let me thank you for all the insight you have provided us with today in your remarks, Ms. Raymond. The word “tenacity” comes to mind. That's what you have demonstrated over the last 10 years.
Not only did you experience difficulties in terms of reporting the attacks you suffered, but you also mentioned, when you were in Valcartier, having difficulty obtaining services in French, even as a francophone in the Canadian Armed Forces. You therefore felt a form of discrimination based on language.
12:40 p.m.
As an Individual
Yes. In Valcartier, even francophones speak English. I don't know why that is the case. Francophones even use English forms.
Most Canadians are anglophone. Military personnel are regularly posted to anglophone bases. Francophones in the military constantly speak English and use English terminology, because that allows them to become familiar with working in English and to be more useful. Even though they are on a francophone base, they continue to use English terminology. Personnel who speak only French have to learn a new vocabulary.
In addition, when you're on a telephone helpline to HQ, or to Ottawa, you do not hear a lot of francophones on the other end of the line, and the anglophones are not bilingual.
12:45 p.m.
Bloc
Andréanne Larouche Bloc Shefford, QC
That is another problem you had to face.
You were the victim of a number of assaults. You were assaulted more than once, over several years.
Do you feel that the government is courageous enough to get to the bottom of the current investigations into alleged cases of sexual assault and misconduct in the Canadian Armed Forces?
You were the victim of sexual assault in Canada. Is it possible that members of the Armed Forces elsewhere have been victims as well? Is it possible that this culture also exists in overseas missions?
12:45 p.m.
As an Individual
Yes. Unfortunately, the public does not know about that. I am aware of certain things that I will not disclose and that the public does not know. Honestly, some things are more horrible than what I went through.
Attackers overseas are even more protected. They are there on the ground with children in Afghanistan or Bosnia, with no one to watch them or report them.
I am not convinced that the government really wants to solve this problem. It has not demonstrated that it does. If it did, it would make sure that criminal cases were no longer handled by the military justice system. In my opinion, it's outrageous that they are still handled by the Forces.
12:45 p.m.
Bloc
12:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Marilyn Gladu
Thank you.
Now we're going to have our final round of questions with Ms. Mathyssen.
12:45 p.m.
NDP
Lindsay Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Actually, I would like to have you continue, Ms. Raymond, to talk about those international supports.
Do you have any suggestions that we can pass on to the government as to how to start to create the provisions of the supports, of course, domestically, but also internationally?
12:45 p.m.
As an Individual
It is a little difficult for me to answer that question because I did not go into an operational field.
It is difficult to report assaults in the Canadian Armed Forces, even here in Canada. If you are overseas, it's even more difficult. There are additional difficulties to get over because the Army can solve its problems itself without having to inform civilian authorities about them.
The problem is that information becomes sealed; family secrets stay in the family. No outside eyes are watching. No one will report assaults because they know the major consequences it will cause.
I can't say anything more about it, unfortunately.
12:45 p.m.
NDP
Lindsay Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
I want to quickly ask something.
In the previous session, we also talked about the extension of supports to Veterans Affairs Canada. You said that luckily your case had been taken and you are now receiving compensation.
In terms of the supports for victims of sexual misconduct, abuse and assault, what would you say needs to be provided or what would you say are the gaps that need to be filled?
12:45 p.m.
As an Individual
I didn't receive any assistance specifically for victims of sexual trauma.
They agreed to open a file for me, but for a reason that had nothing to do with the assaults. I knew that, if I asked for reasons that did have to do with an assault, no file would be opened for me.
Later, I received some help from a psychologist. I was supposed to receive help from a military psychiatrist, the same one who had told me that I had decided myself that the assaults would continue. So I asked to be seen by a female psychologist who was not in the Army, and that is what happened. I was fortunate there, but it was not easy.
It is difficult to find help. They say that help is available, but you really have to look for it. I even had to appeal the Veterans Affairs Canada decision, because I was being told that I had no lasting effects and didn't need psychological help. Yet, at that very moment, I was being assisted by Veterans Affairs Canada.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Marilyn Gladu
That is all the time we have.
I must thank our witness for her loyal service and her excellent comments.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Marilyn Gladu
Now we are going to go in camera for committee business, so we'll suspend for a few minutes.
The meeting is suspended.
[Proceedings continue in camera]