‘True’ that military leadership ‘just doesn’t get it’ on sexual misconduct issue, Freeland says

'The military still doesn't get that survivors need to be ... the unique priority of everything in regards to sexual misconduct and harassment in the military,' Trudeau said.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says it’s “true” that leadership “just doesn’t get it” when it comes to the handling of sexual misconduct within the Canadian Armed Forces.

Her comment comes after Maj. Gen. Peter Dawe, who wrote a positive reference letter for a sex offender, had been tasked with working on a number of reviews related to sexual misconduct within the forces.

Dawe was then removed from the role late Tuesday night.

“You said, Mercedes, that it seems as if the leadership just doesn’t get it. And I think that’s true. I think the reality is, there is a systemic problem with the treatment of women, the treatment of sexual harassment, in the Canadian Armed Forces,” Freeland said, responding to a question from Global News’ Mercedes Stephenson.

“It is clear that there is a toxic culture there and it is clear to our government, as the prime minister said, that that needs to change and it will.”

Dawe was directed to leave his post “immediately” in early May, following reports that he wrote a character reference for another service member who had been convicted of six criminal counts, including sexual assault.

When he returned to work, however, Dawe was tasked with compiling and scrutinizing materials from multiple sexual misconduct reviews.

In a statement late on Tuesday, Lt.-Gen Frances Allen, vice-chief of the defence staff, said Dawe “will be undertaking the important task of engaging with that community to better understand how he can contribute to meaningful culture change.”