Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt has blocked an advertisement in the base newspaper asking survivors of sexual harassment, assault and discrimination to come forward, saying it might “amplify the sexual harassment issue.”
The rejection conflicts with statements by Canadian Forces top brass that they are committed to rooting out sexual misconduct in the military ranks, lawyer Rajinder Sahota said.
His law firm, Acheson, Sweeney, Foley, Sahota, attempted to place the ad in the Lookout in December, but was told it didn’t meet the intent of the newspaper.
“If their words matched their deeds, they would permit this type of advertisement to be published within the Lookout, as opposed to trying to censor it,” Sahota said.
The law firm is preparing a class-action lawsuit on behalf of survivors of sexual misconduct in the military. Sahota said more than 100 survivors have come forward.
He said the ad offered support to survivors beyond legal advice, including counselling and psychiatric support and “a safe, open, honest and privileged or confidential space to share your story.”
It quoted Gen. Jonathan Vance, chief of the defence staff, saying: “Harmful sexual behaviour is a real and present threat in our institution. Those who commit such acts are betraying the values of the country they are sworn to defend.”
Sahota said he went back and forth with the editor of the Lookout, who suggested changes to the ad.
“Our newspaper cannot be used as a vehicle to further amplify the sexual harassment issue currently in the mainstream media,” editor Melissa Atkinson said in an email to Sahota.
“We welcome a generic ad that makes no reference to CAF, DND, and the military.”
An earlier email forwarded from an advertising representative said the paper can’t quote uniformed personnel in a business advertisement, regardless of subject, since the military can’t be seen to support one business over others.
The ad request was forwarded up the command chain to the base commander’s office and the public affairs department.
Capt. Jenn Jackson, public affairs officer for CFB Esquimalt, said the proposed advertisement did not meet the intent of the base newspaper.
“It is important to note that Canadian Armed Forces newspapers are a public affairs tool for the chain of command, and in reviewing ads, we seek to strike the most appropriate balance between meeting the information needs of the military community and the potential impact on the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces,” she said in an email.
The topic itself wasn’t considered controversial, she said.
“The chain of command takes this issue extremely seriously and continues to employ a variety of strategies and approaches to instil institutional change.”
In December, Sahota also filed a notice of civil claim against the attorney general of Canada, on behalf of client Nicola Peffers, alleging sexual assault and harassment of women and LGBTQ members of the Canadian Armed Forces.
The proposed suit alleges the institutional culture of the military fosters an environment where assault and harassment are the norm, and lack of effective leadership permits a culture of abuse to fester.
Peffers, the lead plaintiff, said she was sexually assaulted by her supervisors and peers.
Sahota said the law firm hopes to certify the class action this year. Although the ad never ran, the firm has connected with more than 100 complainants, he said, through social media and word of mouth.
Almost all of those are from B.C., with the majority on Vancouver Island, he said.
A Statistics Canada survey released in November found 4.8 per cent of female Canadian Forces members reported being sexually assaulted over the past year, compared with 1.2 per cent of male members.
“If I’m in a position with DND, I shouldn’t be concerned about a lawsuit, I should be concerned about how to stop this kind of behaviour from being pervasive in the ranks,” Sahota said.
Two law firms in Ontario and one in the Maritimes have also filed class actions, Sahota said.
