After playing golf with Jonathan Vance, the second in command of the military resigned
The second in command in the Canadian military resigned after playing golf with the retired Chief of Defense Jonathan Vance, who was under investigation for sexual misconduct.
Lieutenant General Mike Rouleau announced today that he plans to resign from the post of Chief of Defense Staff and begin the process of leaving the army.
Rouleau and Vance played golf with Lieutenant General Craig Baynes, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, at the Highlands Golf and Country Club in Ottawa on June 2.
Rouleau said in a media statement that his decision to play golf with Vance “intensified recent incidents and further weakened trust.”
Rouleau said he invited Vance to play golf “to ensure his health.” He insisted that he and Vance did not discuss anything related to the ongoing investigation while they were out.
Rouleau said in a statement: “Given the current situation, I understand how such activities can lead some people to believe that there is a potential conflict of interest and disputes, but this is not the case.”
The female of the Vance Sexual Misconduct Case Center, Major Kelly Brennan, delivered Blockbuster testimony to parliamentary committee in AprilShe told Congressman Vance that he considered himself a “untouchable” and that he was the father of her two children but did not support her.
Former Defense Secretary Vance is facing another allegation of misconduct involving Brennan and another unidentified woman. The military police are investigating whether his relationship with his former subordinate Brennan was improper and violated military regulations.
He was also investigated for allegedly sending a pornographic e-mail to another woman who was a junior non-commissioned officer about nine years ago.
Vance told Global News that he denied these allegations.
Rouleau supervises the military investigation department
As the deputy chief of staff to the chief of defense staff, Rouluo has authority over the military’s provost. The Provost is responsible for the Canadian Forces National Investigation Agency (CFNIS), which is investigating allegations of misconduct with female subordinates by Vance.
Rouleau said that the CFNIS investigation was “completely independent” of his office, and he has never intervened in the investigation, including investigations into allegations of sexual misconduct.
He said: “I don’t have any power over any military or police investigation.”
Rouleau also stated that Baynes’ participation “definitely depends on my attendance” and demanded that “only me is responsible”.
“It’s very frustrating,” said Paula McDonald, a retired soldier who has been pursuing independence. Complaints of sexual misconduct in the past six years.
She said the golf outing shows that the military tends to suppress allegations against those in power.
“This shows that their priority is to support the person accused of sexual misconduct, not the victim of sexual misconduct,” MacDonald told CBC News.
Start to leave the army
The Ministry of National Defense stated that Rouleau will be transferred to the Canadian Armed Forces Transition Team, which helps soldiers prepare for life after retirement.
“How long it will take is still to be determined,” DND said in a statement on Rouleau.
It is not clear whether Rouleau will receive his full pension.
Lieutenant General Wayne Al, acting chief of staff of the Department of Defense, called the golf outing “disturbing” and stated that both Rullo and Baynes accepted the responsibility for participating.
After Major General Rouleau resigned, BF Frawley was appointed as the acting deputy director of the Defense Staff. Lieutenant General Al confirmed that Francis Allen will assume this role permanently in the coming weeks.
O’Toole blames the Liberal Party leadership
At the same time, Conservative Party leader Irene O’Toole said today that it was “completely inappropriate” for senior military leaders to play golf with Vance earlier this month.
The Conservative Party leader also accused the Liberal government, especially the Secretary of Defense, Harjit Sajan, for showing a lack of leadership by dealing with sexual misconduct in the Canadian military.
O’Toole told reporters on Monday: “This is completely inappropriate. It shows that there is a broken culture at the top of the Ministry of Defense. They do not have the personal judgment to make better decisions.”
More than six military leaders have been involved in the military’s misconduct crisis, and some of them are under investigation by the military police for allegations of misconduct.
“Very disappointed, very surprised”-Freeland
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Freeland told reporters that she learned about the golf trips of other members of the Liberal government over the weekend.
“I am very disappointed and surprised. I think this shows poor judgment. I fully understand and sympathize with the men and women serving in the Canadian Armed Forces, especially women. They may be concerned about this and the concerns they cause. Really fair,” she said.
Freeland says it needs “a real change in the culture of the Canadian Armed Forces”
The Minister of Finance stated that there is funds in the federal budget to start such a system and encourages opposition MPs in the House of Commons to support the budget so that the government can start it.
