Apology to current and former members of the Defence Team

Media are invited to view the virtual public apology to all current and former members of the Defence Team who have been affected by sexual assault, sexual harassment or discrimination based on sex, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation.

December 10, 2021 – Ottawa – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

Media are invited to view the virtual public apology to all current and former members of the Defence Team who have been affected by sexual assault, sexual harassment or discrimination based on sex, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation.

The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence, will offer an apology on behalf of the Government of Canada. General Wayne Eyre, Chief of the Defence Staff, will offer an apology on behalf of the Canadian Armed Forces. Jody Thomas, Deputy Minister of National Defence, will offer an apology on behalf of the Department of National Defence.

The apology will take place virtually at 1 pm EST on December 13 and will be broadcast live on the Canadian Armed Forces Facebook page. Viewers can watch the video stream without an account or signing in to Facebook. A link to the video stream will be posted shortly before the event on the CAF and DND Facebook and Twitter pages, and will also be available on the DND/CAF Sexual Misconduct Apology web page.

The event will also be recorded and available in broadcast quality afterwards on YouTube for those who are unable to watch it live or prefer to view it at a later time.

Note to editors:

The apology may evoke strong emotional responses for viewers and/or cause trauma to resurface either in the moment or later on.

We would appreciate it if, as part of your reporting, you could make mention of the support services available to current and former Defence Team members. A list of these services can be found here.

Furthermore, as our focus on the day of the apology will be support to affected persons, their families, and those close to them, there will not be a Q&A session following the event. We wish for the apologies to speak for themselves.

A photo will be issued along with the corresponding news release.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions and limitations on gatherings, in-person attendance will not be permitted.

Associated links

• DND/CAF Sexual Misconduct Apology
• Canadian Armed Forces Facebook page
• Canadian Armed Forces Twitter
• Canadian Armed Forces YouTube Channel

Services:

• Get help following an incident of sexual misconduct
• Sexual Misconduct Response Centre (24/7)
• Canadian Forces Health Services Centres
• Canadian Forces Member Assistance Program (24/7)
• The Family Information Line (24/7) (you are now leaving the Government of Canada website)
• CAF Chaplain Services
• Operational Stress Injury Social Support (OSISS) (peer based support program for CAF members, Veterans and their families) (you are now leaving the Government of Canada website)
• Veterans Affairs Canada Assistance Service (24/7)
• Veterans Affairs Canada Benefits and Services (24/7)*
• Employee Assistance Program for DND Employees (24/7)
• Employee and Family Assistance Program for Staff of the NPF Employees (24/7) (you are now leaving the Government of Canada website)

Information:

• Sexual Misconduct Information and Resources
• Respect in the Canadian Armed Forces mobile application
• Workplace conflict, misconduct, and harassment resolution in the CAF
• Conflict & Complaint Management Services
• New Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention Regulations for Defence Team Public Service Employees
• Centre for Conflict Resolution and Ethics for Staff of the Non Public Funds, Canadian Forces (you are now leaving the Government of Canada website)

Contacts

Daniel Minden
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of National Defence
Phone: 613-996-3100
Email: daniel.minden@forces.gc.ca

Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-904-3333
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca