McGuinty Comments on Fifth Biannual Monitor Report
The Minister of National Defence, the Honourable David McGuinty, issued the following statement today in response to Madame Jocelyne Therrien’s fifth External Monitor status report. The report provides an update on the Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) implementation of the recommendations of the Independent External Comprehensive Review (IECR).
“CAF members serve with dedication and pride, upholding Canadian values at home and around the world. Their service commands deep respect, and supporting their well-being is a responsibility we all share. That’s why the Defence Team continues to advance meaningful culture change by building a safer, more inclusive workplace for all. By implementing the recommendations of the Independent External Comprehensive Review under the oversight of Madame Therrien, the Defence Team is becoming more open, transparent, and accountable. I welcome this fifth report and thank the External Monitor for her continued leadership and insight.”
“We are continuing to make progress and as Madame Therrien points out, we “are on track to meeting the intent of all 48 recommendations by the end of 2025”. To date, 36 recommendations of the IECR have been addressed.
“We have made tremendous progress on clarifying definitions and terminology in implementing recommendations 1 and 2. In June 2024, the Defence Team announced that policies using the term ‘sexual misconduct’ would be updated to remove the term and instead use harassment of a sexual nature, conduct deficiencies of a sexual nature, and crimes of a sexual nature. Additionally, ‘sexual assault’ will be included as a distinct definition in relevant policies.
“In March 2025, the CAF adopted the Canada Labour Code definition of harassment and violence, aligning its harassment program with the public service Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention program. This resulted in one unified policy for dealing with harassment and violence in the workplace, applicable to both DND public service employees and CAF members. It also responded to recommendation 3 of the IECR. CAF members who experience or witness harassment and violence in the workplace now have a simpler way to report occurrences, informal means of resolving them, and a streamlined investigation process.
“We have also made progress in offering a meaningful range of victim services and assistance. To address recommendation 14 of the IECR, the Sexual Misconduct Support and Resource Centre expanded its services to include a full-time legal resource dedicated to dispensing information and assistance to individuals who have experienced sexual misconduct within a Defence Team context. As a next step, they plan to offer access to civilian lawyers who can assist at various locations across the country, at no cost to individuals.
“The Government remains committed to reintroducing legislation that would amend the National Defence Act to further modernize the military justice system and address recommendation 5 to definitively remove the CAF’s jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute Criminal Code sexual offences committed in Canada, giving exclusive jurisdiction to civilian authorities.
“Regarding recommendation 6, on engaging a quality assurance assessment of past administrative reviews, we have accepted the recommendations of the Externally-led Review Committee (ERC) , and direction has been given on priority items, including: establishing an advisory board to assess individual cases, delegating release authority to the Command level; and rethinking the criteria for release decisions, taking into account the severity of the case.
“As Madame Therrien notes, we took constructive action to modernize recruitment and retention, in line with recommendations 20, 22 and 25. In December 2024, the CAF introduced a probationary period allowing applicants in both the Regular Force and the Primary Reserve to begin training while waiting for their security clearance and other administrative requirements to be finalized. During this probationary period, if a recruit does not meet the necessary requirements, they will be released from the CAF. In October 2024, the CAF updated its evaluation of candidates to include questions on education, experience, leadership, and other life achievements, enabling a broader and more considerate assessment of applicants. The CAF is also digitizing application processes and modernizing its medical enrolment standard, leading to greater efficiency. These improvements, along with others to come, will help enable the CAF to respond when called upon to serve Canada’s interests, both at home and abroad.
“Also noted in her report, on the theme of leadership, we’ve introduced a more systematic approach to promotions including a new selection process based on past conduct and character traits, and once promoted, we offer stronger supports for leaders including modernized, culture-related training materials, coaching sessions and leadership advice.
“In this report, Madame Therrien speaks to the challenge the Defence Team faces in consolidating its many data holdings related to misconduct data and associated outcomes. I agree, and we must continue to evaluate options to create an integrated approach to collect the right data to gain a clearer picture of misconduct across the Defence Team. An effective system can lead to more timely support to affected persons while providing access to recourse options that best address their needs, while also holding people accountable for their actions within a process that is transparent and fair.
“I want to thank Madame Therrien for her thoughtful and honest assessment of the work done so far and the challenges ahead. We’ve made meaningful progress in addressing deep-rooted issues within the military, and we remain fully committed to continuing this work. We remain steadfast as we continue to improve the overall Defence Team culture.”
https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2025/07/statement-from-minister-mcguinty-on-the-fifth-biannual-report-of-external-monitor.html