By Canadian Press

Arbour calls for ‘immediate’ transfer of CAF sexual misconduct cases to civilians

Nov 4, 2021 | 8:16 AM

OTTAWA — Retired Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour has told the federal government to “immediately” transfer all criminal cases involving allegations of sexual misconduct in the military to civilian authorities.

The message was in a letter Arbour sent to then-defence minister Harjit Sajjan on Oct. 20, a copy of which has been obtained by The Canadian Press.

The letter comes six months after the Liberal government tapped Arbour to come up with ways to address sexual misconduct in the Canadian Armed Forces, which has been battered with allegations against numerous top officers.

Arbour wrote that she has heard widespread doubts about the independence and competence of military police, which has spawned serious mistrust in the military justice system, especially when it comes to investigations.

Arbour is the second retired Supreme Court justice to have called for the military to transfer criminal cases involving sexual misconduct to civilian authorities since June, when Morris Fish made a similar recommendation following a comprehensive review of the military justice system.

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At that time the government said it agreed with Fish’s suggestion in principle, but has yet to take any action.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 4, 2021.

Lee Berthiaume, The Canadian Press