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OTTAWA – Federal Liberals accused of ditching victims of military sexual misconduct as parliamentary committee prepares to rise for the summer without producing a report on allegations involving former defense chief Jonathan Vance.
Since February, the House of Commons Defense Committee has been investigating the government’s handling of complaints against Vance, as well as the current Chief of the Defense Staff, Admiral Art McDonald.
Opposition parties say committee cannot complete its final report due to Liberal filibuster, and another report on access to mental health for military members is also at risk as time is running out until summer and a possible election in the fall.
The committee is due to meet two more times before the House rises next week and NDP defense critic Randall Garrison says there is no sign the Liberals will stop their tactics delaying.
Liberal committee member Anita Vandenbeld, who is also Parliamentary Secretary to Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan, was not immediately available for comment.
The Conservatives, meanwhile, are stepping up calls for Sajjan’s sacking and have indicated they will force a vote in the House of Commons to censor the defense minister.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on June 16, 2021.
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