Head of army personnel on indefinite go away amid sexual assault investigation

One other prime chief of the Canadian Armed Forces has stepped apart amid allegations of sexual misconduct which have sparked a army investigation, the Division of Nationwide Defence confirmed Wednesday.

In a press release to World Information, the division mentioned Vice-Adm. Haydn Edmundson, who serves because the army’s head of personnel, is on indefinite go away because the Canadian Forces Nationwide Investigation Service (CFNIS) appears to be like into the allegation.

“The Canadian Armed Forces are very troubled by these allegations and, above all else, are involved for the well-being of the sufferer who has been carrying this burden for 30 years,” the assertion learn.

The division mentioned the matter was referred to the CFNIS by performing chief of defence employees Lt.-Gen. Wayne Eyre.

The investigation was opened after CBC Information first reported that Edmundson is being accused of raping a subordinate lady officer in 1991.

Former army member Stéphanie Viau advised the CBC that she was a 19-year-old steward when she was sexually assaulted by Edmundson, who was a lieutenant commander on the time, aboard HMCS Supplier whereas it was docked in Pearl Harbour.

Viau mentioned the assault got here days after Edmundson allegedly uncovered his genitals to her.

World Information has not corroborated the allegations or spoken to both Viau or Edmundson.

The allegations are probably the most critical to be levelled towards a senior member of the army since World Information first reported allegations in inappropriate behaviour towards former chief of defence employees Gen. Jonathan Vance on Feb. 2.

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Three weeks later, Vance’s successor, Adm. Artwork McDonald, stepped apart from his place in response to a separate allegation of sexual misconduct towards him.

Each males are actually going through twin army probes.

Vance has denied all allegations towards him, whereas McDonald has not commented publicly since stepping apart.

The allegations towards a number of senior officers — and the best way such allegations are dealt with and investigated — have plunged the army right into a disaster as extra girls come ahead and others stop in protest.

Eyre, who preceded Edmundson as head of army personnel till Edmundson took over in 2019, introduced final week that Operation Honour — the army’s marketing campaign to finish sexual harassment inside its ranks — could be shut down.

“Operation Honour has culminated, and thus we are going to shut it out, harvest what has labored, be taught from what hasn’t, and develop a deliberate plan to go ahead,” he mentioned.

Girls and Gender Equality Minister Maryam Monsef advised World Information on Wednesday that the army is going through a “reckoning” over sexual misconduct. But she provided no particulars on the work she is doing with Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan to deal with the problem.

Sajjan has confronted calls to resign amid scrutiny over how he dealt with an allegation towards Vance that was shared with him in 2018.

— With information from Amanda Connolly