Leona Alleslev

[National Defence, May 5th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, women in the military have lost hope. Some have lost their career, others have tragically accepted there will be no justice. Service to country is an honourable profession. My father served, I served, and I would be incredibly proud if my daughter wanted to as well, but under the Prime Minister, if she chose a military career I would be worried for her safety.

If they asked him, would the Prime Minister encourage Canada’s sons and daughters, including his own, to serve in the Canadian Armed Forces?

[National Defence, May 5th, 2021]

Mr Speaker, military and civilian members know that harassment is alive and well in DND. The avalanche of allegations of sexual misconduct in the military continues, but under the Prime Minister no one is ever responsible; no one is held accountable. He hides saying he did not know, but that was three years ago. He knows now and still refuses to act.

Will the Prime Minister hold anyone accountable for perpetrating sexual misconduct at the highest levels in Canada’s military?

[Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act, May 3rd, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, actions speak louder than words. My hon. colleague has said what the government is going to do, but the government has been in power for almost six years and emissions have not gone down. The government has filibustered at committee, obfuscated and done everything it can to avoid making sure that information is provided to this House, to Parliament and to Canadians.

Can my hon. colleague tell us exactly how this legislation will hold the government to account?

[Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act, May 3rd, 2021]

Madam Speaker, I would like to follow up on my Bloc colleague's question. It is great to talk about what one is going to do and great to talk about the investments, yet with the problem we are trying to solve and the actions the Liberal government has taken, there does not seem to be any connection between achieving results and what it has done.

Could the member please give us an idea of how the measures the Liberal government has put in place are actually achieving real targets?

[National Defence, April 29th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, justice delayed is justice denied. This defence minister failed to implement the Deschamps report, and this new review will suffer the same fate. Rather than standing for women, he has reinforced an entrenched and toxic military culture. He knew about the allegations of sexual misconduct against General Vance for three years and did nothing. His inaction has emboldened the old boys club and denied women the opportunity to be believed.

Will the minister admit he has failed in his duty as Minister of National Defence?

[National Defence, April 29th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, a defence minister must ensure that Canada's military not only defends the values for which our nation stands, but also embodies them. Under this minister, the old boys club continues unchecked. Members of the military police feel they can safely mock victims of sexual misconduct rather than protect them from it. Senior officers believe they can make recommendations about service members' conduct without taking into consideration convictions of sexual assault.

Will the minister admit he has failed in his duty as Minister of National Defence?

[Canadian Armed Forces, April 29th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, under the Prime Minister, abuse of power at the highest levels in Canada's military continues unchecked. Former chief of the defence staff General Vance and other general officers are under investigation for sexual assault and misconduct, and more senior officers are complicit through their actions or their silence.

For three years, the defence minister knew of serious allegations against General Vance. Key officials in the Prime Minister's Office and the Privy Council Office knew and they all did nothing.

Rather than standing for women, the Prime Minister has re-enforced and entrenched a toxic military culture. His inaction has emboldened the “old boys club” and denied women the opportunity to be believed.

Lasting change will come when those who have failed are held accountable. Women in the military have earned the right to serve equally and with respect. Why will the Prime Minister not stand with them?

[National Defence, April 28th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, there are only two possible truths in the case of allegations of sexual misconduct against General Vance. Either the Prime Minister knew, did nothing and allowed abuse of power at the highest levels to continue unchecked, or his staff did not inform him and his rhetoric about taking allegations of sexual harassment seriously is simply untrue. The process is that all roads lead to the Prime Minister.

If the Prime Minister had known about the allegations, would he have removed General Vance?

[National Defence, April 28th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister stated that his office, like him, takes sexual harassment extraordinarily seriously, but Katie Telford did not take the misconduct allegations against General Vance seriously. If she had, she would have informed the Prime Minister. Only he can replace a chief of the defence staff, not unelected members of his office. His staff made him complicit in the misconduct, denying him the opportunity to act.

If the PM's staff had not kept him in the dark about the allegations against General Vance, would he have removed him?

[National Defence, April 28th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, what one permits is what one promotes. The Prime Minister is the most powerful man in the country. Rather than standing for women in the face of serious allegations of misconduct against General Vance, the Prime Minister has reinforced an entrenched and toxic military culture. His inaction has emboldened the military “old boys” and denied women the opportunity to be believed.

If the PM had known about the allegations against General Vance, would he have removed him?