Canada’s air force probes sexual misconduct allegation against Snowbirds pilot – National | 24CA News
The Royal Canadian Air Force is investigating a sexual misconduct allegation in opposition to a Snowbirds pilot, and the aerobatics staff will probably be performing a airplane quick in the intervening time.
The commanders of 1 and a pair of Canadian Air Divisions issued a press release on Saturday saying the allegation has been made in opposition to a member of 431 Squadron, which relies in Moose Jaw, Sask., and the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service is investigating.
Department of National Defence spokeswoman Jessica Lamirande mentioned the member is a pilot with the aerial acrobatics staff, however she famous no prices have been laid.
Lamirande mentioned the division isn’t releasing the place or when the alleged misconduct occurred.
The division’s news launch mentioned the particular person affected by the alleged misconduct can also be a member of the army.
It mentioned the Snowbirds will carry out air shows as an eight-aircraft staff, as an alternative of 9, for the foreseeable future.
“The pilots do a number of training exercises before the show year begins,” Lamirande mentioned of why the staff can’t simply fly with one other pilot.
“To sub someone in, we’d have to have a spare (CT-114) Tutor pilot that is fully trained and underwent the same exercises as the other ones. At this point, we don’t have someone who is trained and ready to go.”
The DND mentioned the member dealing with allegations has been reassigned to non-operational duties at 15 Wing Moose Jaw. It famous the measure “does not imply any outcomes and is intended to enable a robust investigation.”
It additional mentioned the affected particular person and impacted CAF members are being offered care and help.
“The RCAF takes all allegations of this nature seriously and is cooperating with investigators fully,” the discharge acknowledged.
The Snowbirds staff are scheduled to carry out in Dieppe-Moncton, N.B., this weekend.
In a evaluate of sexual misconduct within the army ordered by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and launched final yr, retired Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour referred to as for the Canadian Armed Forces to be completely stripped of its jurisdiction over the investigation and prosecution of sexual assault and different associated crimes.
Lamirande mentioned the army just isn’t in a position to disclose the explanation why investigations, together with the one involving the Snowbirds pilot, might or is probably not referred to civilian police “in order to prioritize a victim centric approach and maintain the integrity of an ongoing investigation.”
“There are various reasons that exist as to why a case cannot be referred which include allegations that occurred outside of the country, a victim’s reluctance to participate in a police investigation, or a preference for an investigation to be conducted by the military police,” she mentioned.
Some provinces and municipal police forces have complained in regards to the want for extra funding and different sources to soak up the army’s instances into their very own techniques.
Defence Minister Anita Anand mentioned final month {that a} federal-provincial-territorial committee has been set as much as facilitate conversations between deputy ministers in regards to the switch of instances of legal sexual offences.
The army mentioned in May it has referred 93 instances of legal sexual offences to civilian police since December 2021, and 64 of the instances are below investigation.
© 2023 The Canadian Press
