Harassment in the Canadian Armed Forces
The Canadian Human Rights Act, along with policy, directives and orders in the Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), provide protection from harassment, a form of discrimination based on prohibited grounds.
How to respond to harassment
If you feel harassed while working, you have options on how to respond.
Informal
You should always try to resolve the problem informally and at the lowest level possible. Often, speaking with the individual causing the harassment is highly effective.
Should the harassment continue after speaking with the harasser or it is not possible or appropriate to speak with them, consult your manager, chain of command or Unit Harassment Advisor and ask for their help. They can use their training and resources to organize for collaborative resolution, such as coaching, mediation or facilitation through alternative dispute resolution services.
If speaking with you manager, chain of command or Unit Harassment Advisor is not possible or is not successful, you can contact a Conflict and Complaint Management Services (CCMS) centre for impartial advice and support. These services are easy to access and always confidential.
Find your nearest CCMS centre or call toll free at 1-833-328-3351
When you contact a CCMS centre, you can expect a response to your initial inquiry within two working days. The time it will take to process your case will depend on the nature and complexity of your situation.
Formal
If you cannot solve the complaint informally, or if you're uncomfortable with addressing the problem yourself, you can file a formal harassment complaint.
If the harasser is a CAF member, you must submit a formal complaint in writing. The report should explain your specific concerns about the alleged harassment incident.
If the harasser is a DND public service employee, you can file a Notice of Occurrence.
How to submit a complaint of harassment
Submit a written complaint directly to your Unit Harassment Advisor.
If the harassment is sexual in nature, you can:
- contact the Sexual Misconduct Support and Resource Centre for advice about your reporting options
- file your complaint directly with the Canadian Human Rights Commission
For help and guidance in submitting a formal complaint, you can contact your local Conflict and Complaint Management Services (CCMS) centre for advice. While CCMS will not prepare a complaint of your behalf, they can guide you through the complaint submission process.
What to expect after reporting harassment
When you have submitted a written complaint, the Unit Harassment Advisor will notify the responsible officer of the complaint, who will then begin the harassment complaint intake process. The respondent will be notified within 5 business days of the harassment complaint.
If you've filed a formal harassment complaint and you are dissatisfied with the process, you can submit a grievance.
When a CAF member is found to have committed harassment, it is the responsibility of the Responsible Officer to decide what administrative, restorative and/or disciplinary action is to be taken.
Administrative action can vary from:
- initial counselling
- recorded warning
- counselling and probation
- removal from the immediate workplace
- release
A Responsible Officer oversees harassment prevention for their organization and must immediately intervene to resolve any harassment situation. The Responsible Officer remains neutral throughout the process to ensure that all parties are treated fairly.
Guiding policy
Page details
- Date modified: