National Defence committee  It goes to the type of complaint you receive. This was an informal allegation against the chief of the defence staff, which I was given evidence to corroborate that the allegation did have merit. I was not given authority by the victim to do an investigation. They only came to sp

National Defence committee  Again, can you give me some context?

National Defence committee  I went to the minister in 2014 or 2018? Which period do you mean?

National Defence committee  With respect to 2018, I think I have explained it, but let me try one more time. I was approached by a member of the Canadian Armed Forces on an allegation of inappropriate sexual behaviour against the chief of the defence staff. They asked me for confidentiality, so once that is

National Defence committee  I don't think we can have a conversation irrespective of the complainant. That is the problem. We sometimes forget about who the victims are in these circumstances. I don't think I can even answer that question, because we don't make decisions irrespective of the victim.

National Defence committee  Well, as a direct report to the minister and also as someone classified as a special adviser to the minister, I went to him. I told him that what I had received was in confidence. I asked him for the same thing. I assumed, maybe naively, that I would receive the same type of resp

National Defence committee  First of all, I wasn't looking for respect. I was looking for confidentiality, and no, I did not receive the confidentiality I requested.

National Defence committee  I really have no answer for that. I don't see how they would impact it.

National Defence committee  There wasn't much I could do. I did reach out to the complainant with some minor assurances and just wished the best to that person for the future, but there wasn't much I could do.

National Defence committee  You know, we sit and talk about this a lot, but I believe that in order to fully understand, you almost need to be a victim. Someone comes to a place of authority looking for help, guidance and assistance, and they are told, “Sorry, we don't have any for you.” It is kind of heart

National Defence committee  For sure, that was one of the leading factors. I'm given an informal complaint. I'm locked under the confidentiality. Where do I go? I report to the same person that the chief reports to, fortunately or unfortunately, and I went looking for advice. There was no book. There was

National Defence committee  This is getting very close to giving the details of the allegation, but let me see if I can try this for you. As a supposition, if it were a written document, names could be redacted, dates could be redacted, and just the line of the evidence could be presented—as an example.

National Defence committee  I've gone about as far as I'm going to go in talking about that allegation.

National Defence committee  That is correct.

National Defence committee  This was the first time I was given evidence of inappropriate sexual behaviour.