Latest Update:
March 13 2024 Update
Context:
The Canadian Military Colleges’ (CMC) alumni community is keenly aware of reporting that has spotlighted symptoms of a toxic culture within the Canadian Armed Forces(CAF)/ Department of National Defence (DND), particularly around sexual misconduct and suicide. The Independent External Comprehensive Review, otherwise known as the “Arbour Report”, contained two recommendations focusing on the CMCs:
- 28) that “The Cadet Wing responsibility and authority command structure should be eliminated’’ and
- 29) that “A combination of Defence Team members and external experts, led by an external education specialist, should conduct a detailed review of the benefits, disadvantages and costs, both for the CAF and more broadly, of continuing to educate ROTP cadets at the military colleges.”
The Canadian Military Colleges Review Board (CMCRB) was announced by the Minister of National Defence on 6 December 2023 with a 12-month mandate to focus on recommendation 28 and parts of 29, as we reported in e-Veritas on 1 January 2024. They started work on 15 January 2024. The CMCRB completed four weeks of orientation briefings and made their first visit to Kingston 12-16 February 2024 to visit Canadian Defence Academy Headquarters and the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC). They visited the Collège militaire royale de Saint-Jean (CMRSJ) the week of 4 March 2024. Read More Here.
Contexte
La communauté des ancien(ne)s des collèges militaires du Canada est bien au fait des rapports qui ont mis en lumière les symptômes d’une culture toxique au sein des Forces armées canadiennes (FAC) et du ministère de la Défense nationale (MDN), particulièrement en ce qui a trait aux inconduites sexuelles et au suicide. Voici deux recommandations émises dans le rapport de l’examen externe indépendant et complet, également appelé le « rapport Arbour », au sujet des collèges militaires canadiens. On préconise :
- 28) que « la structure de commandement d’autorité et de responsabilité de l’escadre des élèves-officiers [soit] éliminée »;
- 29) qu’« une équipe composée à la fois de membres de l’Équipe de la Défense et d’experts externes, sous la direction d’un spécialiste externe dans le domaine de l’éducation, [procède] à un examen détaillé des avantages, des désavantages et des coûts, pour les FAC et généralement parlant, [que l’on continue d’]éduquer les élèves-officiers provenant du PFOR dans un collège militaire ».
Le ministre de la Défense nationale a annoncé le 6 décembre 2023 la création du comité d’examen des Collèges militaires royaux (CECMC), dont le mandat de 12 mois consiste à se pencher sur la recommandation 28 et sur certaines parties de la recommandation 29, comme il a été mentionné dans le numéro d’e-Veritas du 1er janvier 2024. Le CECMC a entamé ses activités le 15 janvier 2024. En effet, les membres ont terminé une période d’orientation de quatre semaines et se sont rendus une première fois à Kingston, du 12 au 16 février 2024, pour visiter le quartier général de l’Académie canadienne de la défense (ACD) et le Collège militaire royal du Canada (CMR). S’en est suivie la visite du Collège militaire royale de Saint-Jean (CMRSJ) dans la semaine du 4 mars 2024. Lire la suite ici.
November 28 2023 Update
On Monday, November 20th 2023, the Minister of National Defence, the Honourable Bill Blair, released the second status report of the External Monitor, Jocelyne Therrien, on the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF)/Department of National Defence (DND) implementation of the Independent External Comprehensive Review (IECR, otherwise known as the Arbour Report). Mme Therrien’s second report included the following update on the status of the recommendations relating to the Canadian Military Colleges. Read More Here
Le lundi 20 novembre 2023, le ministre de la Défense nationale, l’honorable Bill Blair, a publié le deuxième rapport d’étape de la contrôleuse externe, Jocelyne Therrien, qui porte sur la mise en œuvre par les Forces armées canadiennes (FAC) et le ministère de la Défense nationale (MDN) des recommandations formulées par Louise Arbour dans le rapport de l’examen externe indépendant et complet (EEIC, également appelé le « rapport Arbour »). Dans son deuxième rapport, Mme Therrien fait le point comme suit sur l’état d’avancement de la mise en œuvre des recommandations touchant les collèges militaires du Canada. Lire la suite ici.
November 13 2023- Background Information for the Secretariat for the CMC Review Board
Links to information decks:
EN: Background Information for the Secretariat for the CMC Review Board
FR: Informations générales pour le Secrétariat du Comité d’examen du CMC
November 13 2023 Update provided following Annual General Meeting
Immediately following the issuing of the Arbour Report, the RMC Alumni Association formed an internal “response team” composed of staff and board directors, which monitors the public communications environment and coordinates communications plans and activities.
As you will be aware, RMC Alumni Association issued an initial statement in response to the Arbour Report in June 2022, and since then has provided a series of updates in February 2023, July 2023, August 2023, and October 2023 and November 2023. Each of these updates followed developments in the actions or statements taken by the Minister of National Defence, the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces.
Recognizing that the Minister is likely to appoint the Canadian Military Colleges Review Board (CMC RB) imminently, and that the demands of professionally producing a comprehensive, evidence-based submission to the CMC Review Board exceeds our capacity, the RMC Alumni Association has engaged Boston Consulting Group (BCG) to assist the Board in developing its submission to the Government’s CMC Review Board. The submission will focus on recommendations 28 and 29 of the Arbour Report and will look more broadly at this historic opportunity to strategically renew the CMCs. The RMC Alumni Association Board has empaneled a Steering Committee to guide this work. Led by Board Director 18021 Michèle Mullen (RRMC Class of 1991), the Steering Committee consists of:
- Dr. Alice Aiken, VP Research and Innovation, Dalhousie University. Dr. Aitken is a co-founder and the former Scientific Director of the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research, a unique consortium of over 41 Canadian and 7 international universities dedicated to researching the health needs of military personnel, Veterans, and their families. She served 14 years in the CAF, including service on the military staff at RMC. She is currently the Honorary Captain(Navy) for Canadian Forces Health Services Atlantic.
- Dr. Wanda Costen, Dean Smith School of Business, Queen’s University. Dr. Costen earned a Ph.D. in sociology at Washington State University, an EMBA from Pepperdine University, and Bachelor of Science from the United States Military Academy. She has undertaken research in areas such as managing diversity, racial and gender inequality in organizations, women and leadership, and strategic human resources.
- The Honourable (Ret’d) Erin O’Toole, President & Managing Director ADIT NA (RMC ’95). Mr. O’Toole served as a Member of Parliament for 10 years, including service as Leader of the Official Opposition and as Minister of Veterans Affairs. He is a graduate of Dalhousie Law School and has worked as a corporate lawyer and in-house counsel. He is a graduate of RMC, and began his career as an Air Navigator, flying on Sea King helicopters in the Royal Canadian Air Force.
- The Honourable Rear-Admiral (Ret’d) Rebecca Patterson. A registered nurse by training, Senator Patterson enjoyed a rewarding career with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). As a provider and executive health leader, she worked in military healthcare delivery, education, training, and operational and strategic planning, both at home and on international deployments. On promotion to Flag (General) Officer, she was the first person with a military nursing background ever lead at that rank. She has lead in many different domains in CAF. From serving as the Defence Champion for Women, addressing sexual misconduct and leading culture change efforts in the CAF, to commanding Canada’s 14th health system, the Canadian Forces Health Service at the height of the COVID 19 pandemic, she has always been focused on creating healthy work environments and uplifting others. She has been a strong advocate to transform the culture, eliminate harmful behaviour, and re-establish public trust in the Canadian military.
- Dr. Nancy Taber, Professor and Program Director, Adult Education Brock University (RMC ’93). Dr. Nancy Taber is a professor in the Department of Educational Studies at Brock University. Her research explores the ways in which learning, gender, and militarism intersect in daily life, popular culture, museums, militaries, and educational institutions. She has a particular focus on women’s experiences in the Canadian Armed Forces as relates to organizational culture, official polices, education, and informal everyday practices, with respect to gender discrimination, sexual harassment, and sexual assault. She is a retired military officer who served as a Sea King helicopter air navigator. Dr. Taber is Co-Director of the Transforming Military Cultures (TMC) Research Network.
- Lieutenant-General (Ret’d) Christine Whitecross, Former Commandant of NATO Defense College. Lieutenant-General Whitecross has a Bachelor in Chemical Engineering from Queen’s University and a Masters in Defence Studies from the Royal Military College of Canada. She was appointed Commander of the Canadian Forces Strategic Response Team on Sexual Misconduct, and assumed the duties as Commander, Military Personnel Command in June 2015. She was appointed the first Senior Mentor for the Athena Network of the Royal Military College of Canada.
- Eric Windeler, Founder Jack.org, Honourary Doctorate (LLD) Queen’s University. Eric started an initiative (The Jack Project) in partnership with Kids Help Phone and then Queen’s University, after losing his son Jack to suicide in March 2010. In 2013, Eric received the Champion of Mental Health award from CAMIMH and the QE Diamond Jubilee Medal. In 2015, Eric was honoured by Queen’s University, receiving an honorary degree (LLD) recognizing his work in the field of mental health. Eric works tirelessly to inspire mental health discussion and engagement, especially among young people.
The Steering Committee had its first meeting on Friday 13 October 2023. Multiple streams of evidence will inform the submission, including a survey (with over 1,400 completed to date) and focus groups with recent graduates and alumni. The preparation of the submission is estimated to take 10 weeks.
September 25, 2023 Update
The Royal Military Colleges Alumni Association (RMCAA) has engaged a team of consultants, led by Genevieve Bonin (Royal Military College, Class of 1993) of Boston Consulting Group (BCG), to support the RMCAA’s efforts to produce an independent, fact-based submission to the Canadian Military Colleges (CMC) Review Board aimed at renewing the CMCs.
The RMCAA believe the Colleges have a valuable role to play going forward. The Colleges are where foundations are laid. Needed cultural changes at the Colleges can cascade into and reinforce needed cultural change in the Canadian Armed Forces. We want to contribute to a Review that helps identify ways the Canadian Military Colleges can become better at recognizing and upholding the dignity of all persons while producing exemplary leaders for the Canadian Armed Forces and for Canada. Read More Here.
L’Association des anciens étudiants et anciennes étudiantes des Collèges militaires royaux du Canada a engagé une équipe de consultants, dirigée par Geneviève Bonin (Collège militaire royal, promotion 1993) du Boston Consulting Group (BCG), afin de soutenir ses efforts visant à présenter un avis indépendant et factuel au comité d’examen des Collèges militaires du Canada (CMC) dans le but de renouveler les CMC.
L’Association estime que les Collèges auront toujours un rôle important à jouer à l’avenir. Les Collèges établissent les bases. Le changement de culture nécessaire dans les Collèges peut entraîner un changement de culture dans les Forces armées canadiennes et renforcer sa nécessité. Nous voulons contribuer à un examen qui aide à déterminer les moyens par lesquels les Collèges militaires du Canada peuvent mieux reconnaître la dignité des personnes et la faire respecter tout en formant des dirigeants exemplaires pour les Forces armées canadiennes et pour le Canada. Lire la suite ici.
MND/DM/CDS Message: One Year after the Independent External Comprehensive Review – June 9 2023
The Royal Military Colleges Alumni Association (RMCAA) has reviewed the 30 May 2023 message from the Minister of National Defence, Deputy Minister and Chief of the Defence Staff, “One Year after the Independent External Comprehensive Review.” ( https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/maple-leaf/defence/2023/05/one-year-after-independent-external-comprehensive-review-dnd-caf.html )
The message is linked above and shared below for the benefit of our members, as we know that making progress in reducing and ultimately eradicating the incidence of sexual misconduct in the Canadian Armed Forces is important for us all. We wish to particularly draw attention to the first report of the External Monitor to the Minister, which is available here, (https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/corporate/reports-publications/external-monitor-report-first-status-report-may2-2023.html ) as it describes areas of progress and for continued improvement. We are also pleased to note the appointment of Brigadier-General Corinna Heilman as the military member appointed to the Canadian Military Colleges Review Board.
The RMC Alumni Association believes the Canadian Military Colleges have a valuable role to play going forward. The Colleges are where the foundations are laid. Cultural evolution to renew the military ethos at the Colleges can cascade into and reinforce needed cultural change in the Canadian Armed Forces. We are optimistic that the review will help identify ways the Canadian Military Colleges can become better at recognizing and upholding the dignity of all persons while producing exemplary leaders for the Canadian Armed Forces and for Canada. Read More.
L’Association des ancien(ne)s des Collèges militaires royaux (CMR) a pris connaissance du message publié le 30 mai 2023 par la ministre de la Défense nationale, le sous-ministre de la Défense nationale et le chef d’état-major de la Défense, intitulé Premier anniversaire du Rapport de l’examen externe indépendant. ( https://www.canada.ca/fr/ministere-defense-nationale/feuille-derable/defense/2023/05/premier-anniversaire-rapport-examen-externe-independant-complet-mdn-fac.html)
Ce message est accessible par le lien ci-dessus. Nous le présentons aussi ci-dessous au profit de nos membres, car nous savons qu’il est important pour nous tous de progresser dans la réduction et, à terme, l’éradication de l’inconduite sexuelle dans les Forces armées canadiennes. Nous souhaitons particulièrement souligner la publication du premier rapport de surveillance externe destiné à la ministre, que vous pouvez consulter ici, (https://www.canada.ca/fr/ministere-defense-nationale/organisation/rapports-publications/rapport-surveillance-externe-premier-rapport-etape-2-mai-2023.html) puisqu’il fait état des secteurs de progrès et d’amélioration continue. Nous sommes également heureux de noter la nomination du brigadier-général Corinna Heilman en tant que membre militaire nommé à la Commission d’examen des collèges militaires canadiens. Lire la suite ici.
May 11, 2023 Update
Since our last update in February (https://www.rmcalumni.ca/en/third-update-on-royal-military-colleges-of-canada-alumni-association-activities-in-response-to-the-arbour-report/ ), the Association has been taking steps to prepare to make a professional and credible submission to the Canadian Military Colleges Review Board.
We are pleased to note that the CMC Review Board’s reporting relationship, terms of reference and competency profiles have now been made public and that the selection process for the external members is underway with a publicly posted job opportunity which can be found here (https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/canadian-military-colleges-review-board-at-department-of-national-defence-3586570077/?originalSubdomain=ca). We see this selection process as a critical step in this in preparing for the review. Read More Here.
Depuis notre dernier compte rendu (https://www.rmcalumni.ca/fr/third-update-on-royal-military-colleges-of-canada-alumni-association-activities-in-response-to-the-arbour-report/) publié en février, l’Association a pris des mesures afin de préparer une soumission professionnelle et crédible pour le comité d’examen des Collèges militaires du Canada (CMC).
Nous sommes heureux de constater que la relation hiérarchique, le mandat et les profils de compétences du comité d’examen des CMC sont maintenant publics et que la sélection pour les membres externes est en cours. Une offre d’emploi a d’ailleurs été publiée (Le comité d’examen des CMC | Department of National Defence | LinkedIn). Nous voyons ce processus de sélection comme une étape essentielle à la préparation de cet examen. Lire la suite ici.
February 22, 2023 Update
We will now be providing a regular update on the Alumni Association’s activities in response to the Arbour Report, as we expect the Canadian Military Colleges (CMC) Review Board will be getting underway in 2023 (as noted in the Minister of National Defence’s December 2022 Report to Parliament on Culture Change Reforms in response to former Supreme Court Justice Arbour’s recommendations).
In our December update, we noted that Jill Carleton, as the Chair of the Royal Military Colleges of Canada Alumni Association at that time, wrote to Minister Anand in late October 2022 to express the Association’s desire to contribute to the CMC review. This letter also signaled the Association’s support for reconstitution of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) including support for culture change. The letter reaffirmed our support of the CMCs, and for the integration of education, athletics, bilingualism, and military leadership development in the CMC programs. Moreover, this letter underscored the Association’s acknowledgement that systemic and cultural failings enabled abuse to occur and persist, and reasserted our recognition of, and support for, survivors of sexual assault and harassment within our community. Read More.
Nous présenterons désormais régulièrement des comptes rendus sur les activités de l’Association des ancien(ne)s des CMR en réponse au rapport Arbour, puisque nous nous attendons à ce que les travaux du comité d’examen des Collèges militaires canadiens (CMC) débutent en 2023 (comme il est indiqué dans le Rapport de la ministre de la Défense nationale au Parlement sur les changements culturels en réponse aux recommandations de l’ancienne juge de la Cour suprême Arbour de décembre 2022).
Dans notre compte rendu de décembre, nous avons indiqué que Jill Carleton, alors présidente de l’Association des ancien(ne)s des CMR, avait écrit à la ministre Anand à la fin d’octobre 2022 pour exprimer le désir de son association de contribuer à l’examen des CMC. Cette lettre mentionnait aussi le soutien de l’association pour la reconstitution des Forces armées canadiennes (FAC), ainsi que pour son changement de culture, et réaffirmait son appui envers les CMC et l’intégration des études, du conditionnement physique, du bilinguisme et de l’instruction militaire aux programmes des CMC. De plus, dans cette lettre, l’association admettait que des failles systémiques et culturelles avaient ouvert la porte à des inconduites sexuelles, et réitérait qu’elle reconnaissait et soutenait les survivants d’agressions sexuelles et de harcèlement sexuel au sein de notre communauté. Lire la suite ici.
December 15 2022 Update
On December 13th the Minister of National Defence (MND) tabled a Report to Parliament on Culture Change Reforms in response to former Supreme Court Justice Arbour’s recommendations. The report includes an explanation of how the two recommendations relating to the Canadian Military Colleges (CMCs), #28 regarding the Cadet Wing command structure, and #29 regarding an external review of the CMCs, are being approached for implementation.
The bottom line from this update regarding the CMCs is that an external review will focus on both recommendations #28 and #29. The report notes that currently “DND/CAF is developing draft Terms of Reference and a recommended set of competencies and qualifications for the members who would comprise the CMC Review Board. The terms of reference will be submitted for approval by senior leadership within the department, with work expected to commence in 2023 on the recommended detailed review.”
In late October, the then Board Chair of the RMCAA, Jill Carleton, wrote to the Minister of National Defence to express the Alumni Association’s desire to contribute to the review of the CMCs called for in the Arbour Report’s recommendation #29. This letter reiterated the Alumni Association’s support for survivors of sexual assault and harassment, as well as its continuing support for the Canadian Military Colleges, the four-pillars of the Regular Officer Training Plan (i.e., military leadership development, academics, athletics, and bilingualism), and its overarching desire to advance positive change at the Canadian Military Colleges and in the CAF. The Alumni Association is expecting to receive a reply from the Minister to the Board Chair’s letter, now that the MND has updated Parliament. Read More.
Le 13 décembre, la ministre de la Défense nationale a déposé un rapport au Parlement sur les changements culturels en réponse aux recommandations de l’ancienne juge de la Cour suprême Arbour. Le rapport explique notamment l’approche préconisée pour la mise en œuvre des deux recommandations concernant les Collèges militaires canadiens (CMC), la 28 sur la structure de commandement de l’escadre des élèves-officiers et la 29 sur l’examen externe des CMC.
Il ressort de cette mise au point que les deux recommandations seront visées par un examen externe. Le rapport indique que « le MDN [ministère de la Défense nationale] et les FAC [Forces armées canadiennes] sont en train de déterminer le mandat de même que les compétences et les qualifications qui seront recommandées pour les membres qui composeront le comité d’examen des CMC. Ces éléments devront être approuvés par la haute direction du ministère, et les travaux liés à l’examen détaillé recommandé devraient débuter en 2023 ».
Fin octobre, la présidente d’alors du conseil d’administration de l’Association des ancien(ne)s des CMR, Jill Carleton, a écrit à la ministre de la Défense nationale afin d’exprimer le désir de son association de contribuer à l’examen des CMC proposé dans la recommandation 29. Dans sa lettre, elle réitérait le soutien de l’association envers les survivant(e)s d’agression sexuelle ou de harcèlement sexuel, son appui constant aux CMC et aux quatre piliers du Programme de formation des officiers de la Force régulière (développement du leadership militaire, études, conditionnement physique et bilinguisme), ainsi que sa volonté générale d’apporter des changements positifs au sein des CMC et des FAC. L’association s’attend à recevoir une réponse de la ministre maintenant que cette dernière a présenté son compte rendu au Parlement. Lire la suite ici.
Statement by the RMC Alumni Association on the Report of the Independent External Comprehensive Review (Arbour Report) – June 30, 2022
Over the past weeks since the Arbour Report was published, the board of directors of the RMCAA have read the report, and we continue to reflect on it. We share a deep concern about the situation it describes. We recognize that systemic and cultural failings enabled abuse to occur and persist.
To the survivors who have been let down by the system, this should not have happened. It has taken courage for you to come forward and discuss what happened. We make a commitment to you to work diligently with the Colleges, the CAF and DND to advance cultural and systemic change so this does not happen again.
Since the report was published, we have heard and read a wide spectrum of opinions. There may be alumni who did not experience the trauma described in the Arbour Report and may have difficulty digesting it. They may ask why incidents were not reported and investigated, and why disciplinary action or administrative responses were inadequate. The answers are varied and complicated, and range from shame, guilt and embarrassment to confidentiality concerns, to “fear of not being believed” and other reasons. We ask all alumni to take a moment and reflect on “what if one of the survivors was your daughter or son, niece or nephew, granddaughter or grandson or close personal friend”? Suffice to say, there are significant problems in the system that need to be fixed. Read More.
Au cours des dernières semaines, depuis la publication du rapport Arbour, le conseil d’administration de L’Association des anciens et des anciennes des collèges militaires royaux du Canada a lu le rapport et nous continuons d’y réfléchir. Nous partageons une profonde inquiétude au sujet de la situation qu’il décrit. Nous reconnaissons que les lacunes systémiques et culturelles ont permis que des abus se produisent et persistent.
Pour les survivants que le système a laissés tomber, cela n’aurait pas dû se produire. Il vous a fallu du courage pour venir discuter de ce qui s’est passé. Nous nous engageons envers vous à travailler avec diligence avec les Collèges, les FAC et le MDN pour faire avancer le changement culturel et systémique afin que cela ne se reproduise plus.
Depuis la publication du rapport, nous avons entendu et lu un vaste éventail d’opinions. Il se peut que certains ancien(ne)s n’aient pas subi le traumatisme décrit dans le rapport Arbour et aient de la difficulté à le digérer. Ils peuvent demander pourquoi les incidents n’ont pas été signalés et n’ont fait l’objet d’aucune enquête, et pourquoi les mesures disciplinaires ou les réponses administratives ont été inadéquates. Les réponses sont variées et compliquées, allant de la honte, de la culpabilité et de l’embarras, aux préoccupations en matière de confidentialité, à la « crainte de ne pas être cru » et à d’autres raisons. Nous demandons à tous les anciens de prendre un moment pour réfléchir à ce qui se passerait si l’un des survivants était leur fille, leur fils, leur nièce ou leur neveu, leur petite-fille, leur petit-fils ou un ami proche.? Je me contenterai de dire qu’il y a d’importants problèmes dans le système qui doivent être réglés. Lire la suite ici.