Suit claims bullying, sex assault of Forces women:’The accounts are astonishing’
HALIFAX — The Canadian Armed Forces is rife with sexual misconduct and harassment of women, according to a proposed class action lawsuit that claims systemic gender- and sexual orientation-based discrimination.
“Sexual misconduct and harassment is a deep-rooted problem in Canadian military culture,” Halifax-based lawyer Ray Wagner said Monday after filing a statement of claim against Ottawa with the Nova Scotia Supreme Court.
“The accounts of rampant, routine sexual discrimination, bullying and unwanted sexual advances against female members are astonishing,” he said. “This frequent misconduct is part of a troubling and deeply embedded culture that female members have been forced to endure. It’s time to step back, acknowledge how wrong it is, and take a stand against it.”
The plaintiff in the case is Glynis Rogers, a 29-year-old former member of the Canadian Armed Forces from Nova Scotia, but if the case proceeds, the class could include any women who claim similar treatment.