Parties differ on how to fight sex misconduct in military

OTTAWA — Federal leaders were united in their commitment to fight sexual misconduct in Canada’s military — but divided on the right approach — as the issue made a rare appearance on the campaign trail Wednesday after months of allegations, parliamentary hearings and promises of action.

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh were asked during separate campaign events if they would commit to creating an independent watchdog to fight inappropriate sexual behaviour in the ranks.

Trudeau at an event in Halifax would not commit to creating an independent body to monitor the military and hold it to account, and he instead promised that a re-elected Liberal government would act on the recommendations of retired Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour.

Arbour’s former Supreme Court benchmate Marie Deschamps in 2015 called for an independent centre to monitor the military’s handling of cases and hold it accountable.

O’Toole on Wednesday did commit to creating an independent watchdog for the military, which his party’s platform says would see Canada’s military ombudsman’s office report to Parliament rather than the defence minister, as is currently the case.

Singh also promised to implement Deschamps’s recommendation.