The military cadet program is wrestling with its own systemic sexual misconduct problem | 24CA News

A lawyer and veteran representing former cadets in a category motion lawsuit says the Canadian cadet program, run by the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), is grappling with the identical sexual misconduct points because the navy.

Michael Blois, a companion on the Toronto private damage legislation agency Diamond & Diamond, mentioned plaintiffs have described a tradition within the cadet program that features grooming, rampant sexual harassment and innuendo, and a scarcity of follow-up inside items and summer season camps when cadets have raised sexual misconduct claims with superiors.

Blois and his colleagues filed a $300 million class motion lawsuit final yr. In the assertion of declare, they mentioned the federal authorities has failed relating to “systemic sexual assault, sexual harassment and gender-based discrimination” within the cadet program. None of the allegations have been confirmed in courtroom.

Cadets, who’re aged 12 to 18, will not be CAF members however CAF members supervise the program. The most senior cadet instructors are commissioned officers within the navy’s reserve power, and CAF members usually take part in cadet coaching, particularly at summer season camps. The Canadian Cadet Organizations (CCO) is the physique formally chargeable for the cadet program.

“If you have a sexualized, discriminatory environment within the Canadian Forces, without a doubt it’s going to leak into the cadet organization,” Blois advised 24CA News.

“There is overlap between some members of the Canadian Forces and cadet units, either as volunteers or within the structure of the training … especially at the summertime in the different camps.”

The most up-to-date statistics DND would offer are from a 2020 navy police report, which reveals there have been 257 “founded” incidents of sexual abuse in cadet items and camps over a four-year interval from 2016 to 2019. “Founded” means legislation enforcement had sufficient proof to substantiate that the incidents occurred.

Of the 257 incidents, navy police categorized 215 as sexual assaults, 19 as sexual offences in opposition to youngsters and 23 as different sexual-related offences.

The cadet program’s objective is to “help develop skills that will help youth transition into adulthood,” the Department of National Defence (DND) says on its web site

CAF mentioned in response to CBC inquiries that the cadet program consists of 46,000 youth and over 8,800 navy and civilian members. Approximately 16,000 cadets attended summer season cadet coaching centres in 2019, however in-person summer season coaching was cancelled as a result of pandemic in 2020 and 2021. Around 3,000 cadets attended summer season coaching centres in 2022, CAF mentioned.

The cadet program is just not meant to streamline cadets into the navy. But Blois, a Canadian Army veteran who spent 11 years within the CAF, mentioned sexual misconduct points within the cadet program might deter cadets from pursuing a navy profession.

“If they are a victim, that’s probably steered them away, and that’s a real shame,” he mentioned.

The navy is struggling to fulfill its recruiting targets. Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre estimates the CAF is brief 10,000 common power members.

Several high-ranking officers within the navy are dealing with allegations of sexual misconduct, and a report final yr from former Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour referred to as for modifications within the CAF’s tradition and practices to deal with the difficulty.

Blois mentioned sexual misconduct within the cadets will not enhance till the CAF makes modifications.

“Without a wholesale culture change in that regard, there’s going to be no change really for the cadets,” he mentioned.

Hilary Lockhart, a consultant plaintiff within the class motion, alleges a cadet teacher groomed her after she joined the cadets in 2008 at age 14. The class motion assertion of declare mentioned Lockhart reported the teacher’s behaviour to a superior, however the cadets took no additional motion.

After Hilary’s mom discovered express texts from the teacher on Hilary’s cellphone, she reported them to the police. Police later charged the teacher, who was convicted.

“I never thought that the cadets program would be the worst thing to ever happen to me and my family,” Lockhart mentioned in a news convention final yr, which was posted to YouTube.

Lockhart referred to as for extra transparency on sexual misconduct within the cadets.

“The fact that this dark history in the program is not divulged to parents is extremely negligent, and, quite frankly, irresponsible,” she mentioned.

A DND spokesperson mentioned it can’t touch upon ongoing litigation.

Sexual misconduct ‘not tolerated’ — CAF spokesperson

Maj. Jenn Jackson, the senior public affairs officer for the cadets and Junior Canadian Rangers, mentioned the safety, security and welfare of cadets is this system’s prime precedence.

“We do not tolerate sexual misconduct involving cadets, their instructors, or anyone involved in the cadet program, and this includes not only unwanted physical contact, but also extends to comments, behaviours, all sexual contact involving minors and written text,” Jackson mentioned in an e-mail assertion.

Jackson mentioned any potential legal offence is reported to police and the alleged offender is suspended from cadet actions pending the final result.

“Cadets are taught that unwanted sexual contact of any kind is unacceptable, and they are encouraged to report any incidents regardless of whether the offender is a peer or superior,” Jackson mentioned.

“Counselling, chaplain, police, instructors and other resources are available to cadets who have experienced unwanted sexual touching.”

Jackson added that adults working with cadets are required to undergo quite a lot of screening processes — together with a police information examine — each 5 years. The program additionally requires that adults undergo coaching to establish and handle grooming and luring behaviour, sexual harassment and discriminatory behaviour.

Expert says hierarchical establishments weak to abuse

Dr. Michael Seto, a psychologist and Forensic Research Director on the Royal Ottawa Healthcare Group, mentioned he isn’t stunned on the quantity of sexual misconduct within the cadets. Seto in contrast the issue with reviews concerning the tradition in junior hockey and little one sexual abuse controversies in sure spiritual organizations.

Seto mentioned that establishments with sturdy hierarchies ⁠— together with grownup supervision of youngsters ⁠— might be susceptible to sexual abuse.

“We know that when there’s those kinds of hierarchies in place, it can potentially increase the likelihood of this kind of behaviour,” Seto advised 24CA News.

Victims and witnesses can also be discouraged from reporting sexual misconduct, Seto mentioned.

“If they disclose it, they might be less likely to be believed. They ⁠— quite rightly ⁠— might believe that there’s repercussions if they do or say anything,” he mentioned.

Seto mentioned there are methods the cadet program may handle the difficulty. They embrace establishing clear and accessible reporting processes with acceptable follow-up motion, higher bystander coaching and a system that ensures multiple grownup is current with cadets always.

Blois mentioned he hopes change will begin with the cadet management.

“I think that clouds a lot of these young cadets views on what they should do or what’s appropriate, what’s right or what’s wrong,” he mentioned.

“Because the person who’s either assaulting them or grooming them … is an authority figure that they look up to and are taught is an ethical, reasonable, right person because of their rank or their position.”