Dr. English, you mentioned in previous testimony—and I'm picking up where my colleague MP Wong left off—that leadership “buy-in” is essential to Operation Honour succeeding. You also mentioned that “lack of acceptance” permeated throughout leadership in the CAF. Given the testimony of other witnesses, both at national defence committee and here—specifically the ombudsman—it would appear that a lack of leadership “buy-in” and acceptance is not limited to just the CAF. The Minister of National Defence has staunchly refused to accept any responsibility relating to the endemic culture of sexual harassment in the CAF and has gone so far as to deflect blame onto bureaucrats, which is in stark contradiction to other testimony.
Dr. English, how important was it for the Minister of National Defence to buy in to the recommendations made by Justice Deschamps and be part of “guiding strategy” as it relates to Operation Honour? What issues arise when the minister refuses to accept responsibility for failures under his watch?