Deschamps Report

Deschamps Report
Title	Deschamps Report
Author	Marie Deschamps
Year	2015
Country	Canada
Subject	Sexual misconduct in the Canadian Armed Forces and Department of National Defence
Issued by	External Review Authority

Deschamps Report

The Deschamps Report was a 2015 independent review led by Marie Deschamps into sexual misconduct within the Canadian Armed Forces, Department of National Defence, and related institutions. Commissioned after high-profile incidents and parliamentary pressure involving figures such as Conservative Party of Canada leaders and inquiries animated by members of the House of Commons of Canada, the report analyzed organizational culture, complaint processes, and institutional responses. Its findings informed debates in the Senate of Canada, responses from the Prime Minister of Canada's office, and subsequent policy changes by senior officials including the Chief of the Defence Staff.

Background and mandate

The review was commissioned in the wake of allegations that surfaced around events in Gagetown, New Brunswick, controversies involving the Royal Canadian Navy, and publicized complaints that reached the Standing Committee on National Defence and the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs. Mandated by the Minister of National Defence and supported by the Privy Council Office, the mandate directed the panel to examine institutional responses across the Canadian Forces Housing Agency, military academies such as the Royal Military College of Canada, and bases including CFB Halifax and CFB Valcartier. The reviewer was given access to files from the Canadian Human Rights Commission, the Office of the Ombudsman for the Department of National Defence, and the Military Police Complaints Commission to assess whether practices aligned with obligations under statutes like the Criminal Code of Canada and standards espoused by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Investigation and methodology

Marie Deschamps assembled a team drawing on expertise linked to institutions such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Canada, and provincial bodies like the Quebec Court of Appeal. The methodology included reviews of case files from the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal, interviews with complainants who had contacted organizations including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and consultations with advocacy groups such as the Canadian Association of Sexual Assault Centres and the Native Women's Association of Canada. The review incorporated comparative analysis with practices at the United States Department of Defense, the British Ministry of Defence, and the Australian Defence Force to benchmark policies on reporting, investigation, and victim support. Data sources included administrative records from units at CJTFOC training centers, settlement records from the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, and testimony presented to parliamentary committees.

Key findings

The report concluded that sexual misconduct was widespread across units including deployments associated with NATO operations and domestic postings at establishments like CFB Edmonton and CFB Trenton. It found that chains of command practices involving leaders such as base commanders and staff at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School often impeded reporting, creating environments similar to those criticized in reviews of the United States Navy and the British Army. The review documented systemic failures in avenues such as reporting to the Military Police and recourse via the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP; it highlighted inadequate training compared to standards used by the National Defence University and gaps compared to recommendations from the Committee on Women in the Military studies. The report identified leadership deficiencies, cultural tolerance of harassment in social events linked to units like Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, and inconsistent application of administrative remedies paralleling issues flagged in inquiries involving the RCMP External Review.

Recommendations

Deschamps proposed reforms affecting policy, accountability, and victim services analogous to measures seen in reforms after the Tailhook scandal and the Saville Inquiry. Recommendations included removing certain complaints from chain-of-command control by creating an independent reporting mechanism modeled on entities such as the Office of the Inspector General (United States) and establishing specialized units comparable to the Sexual Assault Support Centres in other jurisdictions. The report urged implementation of mandatory training developed with partners such as the Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services and external experts from institutions like the Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture. It recommended legislative adjustments to align military justice processes with principles observed in the National Defence Act reforms and enhanced oversight by bodies including the Auditor General of Canada and the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages where relevant.

Reactions and impact

The report prompted statements from leaders including the Prime Minister of Canada, the Minister of National Defence, and the Chief of the Defence Staff, as well as responses from opposition parties such as the New Democratic Party and the Liberal Party of Canada. Advocacy organizations like the Canadian Women's Foundation and the Canadian Centre for Justice and Community Safety welcomed the emphasis on victims while service organizations including the Royal Canadian Legion engaged in dialogue about cultural change. Academic commentators from institutions such as the University of Toronto, McGill University, and the University of British Columbia analyzed the report in legal and sociological forums, drawing comparisons to reforms in the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence and lessons from the United States Marine Corps.

Implementation and follow-up

Following the report, the Department of National Defence released action plans spelling out measures for timelines, staffing, and monitoring, and the Canadian Armed Forces instituted directives addressing prevention, reporting, and support. Oversight included follow-up by the Office of the Auditor General of Canada and reviews by parliamentary committees such as the Standing Committee on National Defence and Veterans Affairs. Subsequent initiatives involved collaboration with civilian agencies like the Canadian Human Rights Commission and provincial victim services, and influenced policy debates leading to legislative proposals debated in the House of Commons of Canada and the Senate of Canada. The process continues to be cited in evaluations by think tanks like the Conference of Defence Associations Institute and international comparative studies at the NATO Defence College.

Category:Military reports