Mr. Speaker, I rise pursuant to Standing Order 38 on behalf of the constituents of Okanagan-Similkameen-Merritt on an issue of national importance.
On October 3, 1995 I asked the Minister of National Defence a question pertaining to Colonel Kenward who ordered the destruction of video tape evidence of an airborne regiment hazing video. The minister's response was, to say the least, insufficient.
The video tapes that were ordered destroyed impeded the investigation of the military police. Lieutenant-Colonel Kenward who was subsequently promoted to full colonel by the chief of the defence staff despite the minister's own reservations ordered the destruction of the video tapes. It was later revealed that three copies of the video tape existed.
This does not justify the actions of Lieutenant-Colonel Kenward. There will never be any way of knowing whether the three copies match the one destroyed by Lieutenant-Colonel Kenward's order.
This case is an example of the serious problems with the system of justice at the Department of National Defence. This case may in fact be providing details of a miscarriage of justice within the senior command of the Department of National Defence.
The Minister of National Defence notified me in his response on October 3 that the chief of defence staff, General John de Chastelain, would hold a press conference on the issue to clear the air. I personally attended that press conference and I would like to say that it did not clear the air. It muddied the waters further.
The CDS presented the official side of the story with a documented audit trail detailing how Lieutenant-Colonel Kenward was promoted to full colonel. What became clear from these documents was that the chief of defence staff had intervened on behalf of Lieutenant-Colonel Kenward to ensure his promotion.
Documents he released showed that he wrote to the Canadian Armed Forces judge advocate general on behalf of Lieutenant-Colonel Kenward. The correspondence included quotes from Kenward himself denying that he had intended any wrongdoing. The judge advocate general, after considering this counsel from his superior, the chief of defence staff, cleared Kenward's name and cleared the way for Kenward's promotion.
This type of shenanigans underlines the culture of cover-up at the highest level of the Department of National Defence. Kenward's promotion to full colonel was secured despite the concerns of the military police and the Minister of National Defence.
The minister has publicly admitted that he expressed his concerns regarding the promotion to the chief of defence staff and the chief of defence staff refused to heed them. Clearly the minister has no confidence in the CDS and the CDS has little respect for the minister's judgment.
This case is indicative of the problems with our military justice system. It is difficult to believe that the military police had their investigation thwarted by the chief of defence staff and the judge advocate general.
I believe that justice was not served. Canadians still want the Minister of National Defence to clarify his position. When did the Minister of National Defence learn that Colonel Kenward had destroyed video tape evidence? Was it before or after the promotion? Why did he have reservations about the promotion of Kenward to full colonel?