National Defence committee  As I stated in my opening remarks, if an allegation like that came to me or to my office, there are options available to us. As I think I've stated in previous testimony, I do not have the authority to proceed with an investigation where it involves criminal matters or matters th

National Defence committee  Good afternoon, Madam Chair. This is my first appearance before this committee on the issue of sexual misconduct in the military, and it follows my appearance of March 25 before the Standing Committee on the Status of Women. I'm here with Robyn Hynes, director general of operati

Status of Women committee  That's a very broad question. For me, in my role as ombudsman, with my team, there are two points I would like to make. One is that there is a lot of internal change within the armed forces—through training, education, everything like that—that needs to go on and continue to go

Status of Women committee  That is generally the approach we take with any complaint coming forward. We will inform them of what can be done. If we then go forward with their permission to proceed with a particular way of doing things, we would always come back to them to tell them what was the approach pr

Status of Women committee  That's a question you would have to ask PCO. That's not a question for me. I can't really comment on their particular process.

Status of Women committee  I have certainly not had the issues that my predecessor experienced. The minister and I, at this point, have a very respectful and professional relationship. We meet probably between quarterly and semi-annually for various issues, particularly the systemic investigations that we

Status of Women committee  It would be very similar to the other commissioners and individuals who are reporting to Parliament or have an officer of Parliament arrangement. It is still in the manner of.... As an investigation or a review occurs, depending on the mandate an organization has, you would com

Status of Women committee  Yes. Let me clarify things a bit in that regard. The member who brought the complaint forward likely would have been provided with the information on what recourse mechanisms were available to them, including what support would be available to them through the SMRC. The SMRC is

Status of Women committee  The primary issue in this issue of the day around sexual misconduct in the military is what will provide victims, survivors and even witnesses with the confidence and comfort level to come forward with their allegations and have them addressed properly without any political or ad

Status of Women committee  We have to remember, in this particular situation, the wishes of the member in this case. I report directly to the Minister of National Defence. My predecessor did as well, obviously. He brought the particular issue—it was still confidential—to the minister and tried to have a co

Status of Women committee  In this particular case I do not believe that it would be interference. My predecessor, as he has stated, was asking for advice in that regard. I was not aware of the particular discussion that happened, other than what has been stated publicly. In this case, he was asking for ad

Status of Women committee  In this particular situation, the member asked for confidentiality, as we understand it. The member, as we understand it, did not wish to go forward with an investigation, and also the member wanted to see what could be changed. That was the issue of the conversation that happen

Status of Women committee  Absolutely, and I certainly agree that it is a very serious matter that needs to be properly investigated. However, at the time the allegations were brought forward, that was not the member's wish.

Status of Women committee  We can receive a complaint of sexual misconduct and that is the right of every member of the military or the department as well, civilians as well, but in this case, as I said before, we do not have the mandate or authority to investigate or to take forward anything that is a cri

Status of Women committee  I certainly must stress, Ms. Vandenbeld, that my office cannot go to any external body without the consent of the complainant. That's the most important part in this whole discussion.