Backgrounder: Harmonization of the Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention Program for Canadian Armed Forces members
Changes to the Canada Labour Code (CLC) Part II came into effect on January 1, 2021, enabling the Work Place Harassment and Violence Prevention (WHVP) Regulations (SOR/2020-130). This changed the definition of harassment and violence and the way in which federal workplaces manage their programs, placing the focus on resolution and prevention. To facilitate these changes the Department of National Defence (DND) created the WHVP program with a centralized Center of Expertise (CoE) and reporting system.
The changes brought on by the WHVP Regulations applied to DND employees and to Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members involved in an occurrence with a DND employee. This left two separate streams for addressing harassment and violence within the Defence Team, one for occurrences involving CAF members only, DAOD 5012-0, and another for occurrences involving DND employees, WHVP, DAOD 5014-0.
Recommendation #3 of the Independent External Comprehensive Review called for CAF policies to adopt the CLC definition of harassment and violence. The result would not only align the CAF system with Canadian values, but also streamline prevention and resolution strategies, policies, training, and service delivery while eliminating duplication.
On March 1, 2025, CAF adopted DAOD 5014-0 and with it, the CLC definition of harassment and violence and align the previous CAF Harassment Prevention and Resolution program with the WHVP Program. This action enables the evolution of CAF culture by rebuilding trust and creating a healthy, safe and inclusive workplace, free from harassment, discrimination and violence with a cohesive approach for the Defence Team.
Key Changes
The DND and the CAF now have the same reporting and prevention program for workplace harassment and violence.
- DAOD 5012-0, Harassment Prevention and Resolution, is replaced by a revised DOAD 5014-0, Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention and the WHVP Policy Manual.
- DAOD 5014-0 defines harassment and violence as: "any action, conduct or comment, including of a sexual nature, that can reasonably be expected to cause offence, humiliation or other physical or psychological injury or illness to an employee/member including any prescribed action, conduct or comment." This also includes any negative behaviours based on the prohibited grounds of discrimination identified in the Canadian Human Rights Act and family violence.
- Terminology changes
- Incident becomes occurrence
- Complainant becomes Principal Party (PP)
- Respondent becomes Responding Party (RP)
- The role of the Workplace Relations Advisor and the Harassment Advisor are replaced by the WHVP Center of Expertise (CoE) and the Designated Recipient (DR). As per DAOD 5014-0, a “designated recipient” has been established within Chief Professional Conduct and Culture (CPCC) under Director General Conflict Solutions and Services (DGCSS) to receive and resolve Notices of Occurrences (NoO) from employees/members who wish to provide notice outside of their Chain of Command (CoC), as appropriate.
- Reporting of an occurrence of workplace harassment and violence by a PP or a witness can be done either in writing, using a NoO Form (DND 4747), or verbally. It can be reported to the CoC/manager or to a third party within the WHVP program, being the DR, by calling the secure voicemail box at 1-833-451-1604; or by emailing the secure inbox DesignatedRecipientHVP-DestinataireDesignedelaPHV@forces.gc.ca
- There are mandated steps for CoC/managers to follow with specific timeframes when responding to notices of harassment and violence.
- CoC/managers that have received a NoO, shall inform the WHVP CoE (via email at WHVPCoE-PHVCE@forces.gc.ca) within seven calendar days for tracking purposes.
- CoC/managers shall provide written response to the PP and monthly status updates to the WHVP CoE.
- Complaints or incidents of workplace harassment involving only CAF members, formally submitted before March 1, 2025, will continue to be addressed under DAOD 5012-0. Starting March 1, 2025, all new reported occurrences, regardless of when they occurred, will be managed under DAOD 5014-0 and the WHVP Policy Manual.
- All inquiries or advice requests will be directed to the WHVP CoE (via email at WHVPCoE-PHVCE@forces.gc.ca) in lieu of Harassment Advisors.
- CAF conduct associated with workplace harassment and violence is to be handled in accordance with DAOD 5019-0, Conduct and Performance Deficiencies.
- All CAF members and DND employees must complete mandated harassment and violence prevention training.
For more information on the appropriate mechanisms to use to file a complaint or report an incident, please contact your local CCMS or consult the following webpage Submit a complaint or report an incident.
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