Conservatives call on Trudeau to fire defence minister over sexual misconduct crisis

The Conservatives are calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tofireDefence Minister Harjit Sajjan, arguing he's lost the confidence of the Armed Forcesoverthe militarysexual misconduct crisis.

During a heated exchange in question period today, Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole accused Sajjan of mishandling the crisis on a number of occasions over thepast six years.

O'ToolesaidSajjanfailed toget the problem under control by fully implementing therecommendations in a landmark report released in 2015.

O'Toole said if Sajjan respects the institution he once served in uniform,he'll"do the honourable thing and resign." If he doesn't, he said,Trudeau should step in.

"The Canadian Armed Forces is literally falling apart before our eyes," said O'Toole. "When will the prime minister fire his incompetent minister?"

Sajjan said he wouldn't take advice from the Conservatives on military mattersbecauseO'Toole'sparty cut the militarybudget while in government.

"We know that we have a lot more work to do to make sure we create an inclusive environment in the Canadian Armed Forces and we will get it done," Sajjan said.

The callfor Sajjan's resignation comes a day after two bombshell developments.

The military'ssecond-in-command. Lt.-Gen. Mike Rouleau, announced his resignation this week after news broke that he'd playedgolf earlierthis month with former chief of the defence staffJonathan Vance, who is under investigation over an accusation ofsexual misconduct (Vancedenies the accusation).

Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin also filed a legal challenge onMondayclaiming the decision to publicly terminate his secondment last month as the head of Canada's vaccine rollout was driven by political meddlingby Sajjan, among others.

Fortin was removed from the vaccine rolloutin mid-May, justdays before the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service referred a sexual misconduct investigation to the Quebec prosecution service to decidewhether criminal charges should be laid. Fortin denies the sexual misconduct claim.

Former vice chief of defence staff defends Rouleau

In an interview withCBC News'Power and Politics, retired lieutenant-general Guy Thibault, former vice chief of the defence staff,said thecurrent sexual misconduct crisis is a darkperiod for the Canadian Armed Forces; hecomparedit tothe Somalia scandal of the 1990s.

Thibaulttold Power and Politics guest host David Common the hurt suffered by militarymembers due tosexual misconductis "horrific."

Thibaultdefended Rouleau and said it was unfortunate he resigned over the fallout from the golf game. He said hethought Rouleau acted in good faith by reaching out to Vance to see how he was doing.

"It was simply an opportunity, I think, for Rouleau to connect with Gen.Vance and see how he was doing," he said.

Once Rouleau's decision to meet with Vance became part of theongoing sexual misconduct crisis, said Thibault,Rouleau "felt he had no choice but to tender his resignation to move on."

"I think that's a sad outcome for his genuine attempts to do something, to do the right thing," he said.

WATCH: Former military deputy chief says misconduct crisis affecting daily operations

Former military 2nd-in-command says sexual misconduct crisis affecting daily operations

3 years ago

Duration 9:20

Former vice-chief of the defence staff Guy Thibault tells Power & Politics that the ongoing sexual misconduct crisis in the military is having an impact on day-to-day operations.

Many victims of sexual misconduct fighting to seetheir cases thoroughly investigated feel differently. Some told CBC News it was maddening to read about the golf game, which they felt suggestedseniormilitaryleaders are supporting the accused more than allegedvictims.

'Enough is enough,' says Trudeau

The CBC's Murray Brewster asked Trudeau today whenthe government wouldget a handle on thecrisis and whether itthreatens to become amatter of national security.

Speaking from Belgium, where the prime minister was wrapping up his first official foreign trip since the pandemic began,Trudeau said the problem of sexual misconductin the military has gone unaddressed for far too long.

"What we were seeing over these past months is that enough is enough,"said Trudeau. "I can assure everyone that the continued capacity of Canada and its military to assure our collective security continues to be a top priority."

Trudeau pointed to his government's decision to taskformer Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour with leading an external review of sexual harassment and misconduct in the military. The Department of National Defence also created a new position of "chief of conduct and professionalism,"now held by Lt.-Gen. Jennie Carignan.