Interesting article on that in The Hub this AM. I wonder who in DND has an uncle that makes useless sleeping bags?Despite the defence department spending more than $34.8 million on new sleeping bags, the Canadian Army asked late last year that hundreds of soldiers headed to a joint northern exercise in Alaska with the Americans be issued with old, 1960s-vintage bedrolls.
View attachment 24647
Troops who had used the recently issued General Purpose Sleeping Bag System (GPSBS) late last fall in a preparatory exercise found "several critical issues," according to an internal briefing note obtained by CBC News.
During the training exercise last fall (not winter), soldiers reported that even though they used both the inner and outer shells and slept in tents heated by stoves, they were still cold.
According to the internal briefing note, 3 PPCLI's quartermaster concluded the new sleeping bags were "better suited for use in weather conditions that are characteristic of late spring to early fall" and were not practical "for typical Canadian winter conditions nor the extreme cold of Alaska," where the troops deployed for further training in January.
In its statement, DND said it sought feedback from soldiers (after the GPSBS purchase) but the department did not answer directly when asked what sort of cold weather testing was done before it chose to purchase $34,800,000.00 of the sleeping bags.
"The GPSBS was chosen following a rigorous competitive process," said the department's statement.
Defence department spent more than $34 million on new sleeping bags now deemed unsuitable — CBC News
Canadian Army recommended troops heading to Alaskan military exercise earlier this year be issued 1960s vintage sleeping bags after soldiers complain that their new bedrolls, which cost taxpayers $34.8 million, were not suitable for "for typical Canadian winter conditions."apple.news
Canada’s Military current state & equipment
- Thread starter Ron in Regina
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Former military leader Haydn Edmundson found not guilty of sexual assault
Author of the article:Canadian Press
Canadian Press
Sarah Ritchie and Alessia Passafiume
Published Sep 16, 2024 • Last updated 1 day ago • 4 minute read
OTTAWA — Former vice-admiral Haydn Edmundson has been found not guilty of sexual assault and committing an indecent act, concluding a trial that began in February.
Edmundson was head of the military’s personnel in 2021 when he was accused of assaulting another member of the navy during a 1991 deployment.
The complainant, Stephanie Viau, testified during the trial that she was 19 years old and in the navy’s lowest rank at the time of the alleged assault, while Edmundson was an older officer.
Edmundson pleaded not guilty and testified that he never had sexual contact with Viau.
In court on Monday, a small group of his supporters gasped when the verdict was read, and Edmundson shook his lawyer’s hand.
Outside court, lawyer Brian Greenspan said his client was gratified by the “clear, decisive vindication of his steadfast position that he was not guilty of these false accusations.”
Justice Matthew Webber read his entire decision to the court Monday, concluding that the Crown did not meet the standard of proving its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
He cited concerns with the complainant’s memory of what happened more than 30 years ago, and a lack of evidence to corroborate her account.
“There are just too many problems, and I’m not in the business of … declaring what happened. That’s not my job, you know, my job is to just decide whether or not guilt has been proven to the requisite standard, and it hasn’t,” Webber said.
During the trial, Viau testified that one of her responsibilities on board the ship was to wake officers for night watch and other overnight duties, and that she woke Edmundson regularly during that 1991 deployment.
The court has heard conflicting evidence about the wake-up calls.
Viau estimated that she woke Edmundson every second or third night, and she told the court that his behaviour became progressively worse during the deployment.
She testified that he started sleeping naked and that one night she found him completely exposed on top of the sheets.
Viau said she “went berserk,” yelling at him and turning on the lights to wake the other officer sleeping in the top bunk.
That incident was the basis for the indecent act charge.
Webber said he did not believe that Viau could have caused such a disruption on board a navy ship at night without notice from others.
“I conclude that (Viau’s) overall evidence on the allegation that Mr. Edmundson did progressively expose himself to her as being far too compromised to approach proof of those allegations that she has made,” he said in his decision.
Viau alleged that the sexual assault happened a couple of days after her yelling at Edmundson.
She testified at trial that he stopped her in the corridor and called her into his sleeping quarters to talk. Viau said Edmundson kept her from leaving the room, and he sexually assaulted her.
When Edmundson took the stand in his own defence he denied having physical or sexual contact with Viau.
During his testimony, Edmundson also said Viau did not wake him regularly during that deployment because his role as the ship’s navigator kept him on mostly day shifts.
Defence lawyer Brian Greenspan took aim at the Crown’s corroborating witness during cross-examination. The woman, whose name is protected by a court-ordered publication ban, was a friend of Viau’s on the ship.
She testified that she remembered the evening of the assault because she and Viau had been getting ready for a night out during a port visit, and she misplaced her reading glasses. She said Viau offered to go fetch them from another part of the ship but never came back, and that she went looking for her friend.
On cross-examination, the woman explained that she had told all of this to a CBC reporter in early 2021.
Greenspan produced a transcript of that interview that he said suggests the reporter told her key details of Viau’s story before asking her any questions.
Greenspan argued the reporter provided information to the witness and she wouldn’t have been able to corroborate the story otherwise.
In his decision, Webber said the woman’s evidence “cannot be relied upon in any respect to corroborate that evidence of the complainant, because it’s it’s clearly a tainted recollection, doesn’t represent a real memory.”
Edmundson was one of several senior military leaders accused of sexual misconduct in early 2021.
He stepped down from his position as head of military personnel after the accusation against him was made public in 2021. The charges were laid months later, in December 2021.
Edmundson testified that in February 2022, he was directed by the chief of the defence staff to retire from the Armed Forces.
The crisis led to an external review by former Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour in May 2022, whose report called for sweeping changes to reform the toxic culture of the Armed Forces.
The military’s new defence chief, Gen. Jennie Carignan, was promoted to the newly created role of chief of professional conduct and culture in an effort to enact the reforms in the Arbour report.
Outside court, Edmundson declined to comment on whether he was considering legal action against the government or the military.
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Canadian Press
Canadian Press
Sarah Ritchie and Alessia Passafiume
Published Sep 16, 2024 • Last updated 1 day ago • 4 minute read
OTTAWA — Former vice-admiral Haydn Edmundson has been found not guilty of sexual assault and committing an indecent act, concluding a trial that began in February.
Edmundson was head of the military’s personnel in 2021 when he was accused of assaulting another member of the navy during a 1991 deployment.
The complainant, Stephanie Viau, testified during the trial that she was 19 years old and in the navy’s lowest rank at the time of the alleged assault, while Edmundson was an older officer.
Edmundson pleaded not guilty and testified that he never had sexual contact with Viau.
In court on Monday, a small group of his supporters gasped when the verdict was read, and Edmundson shook his lawyer’s hand.
Outside court, lawyer Brian Greenspan said his client was gratified by the “clear, decisive vindication of his steadfast position that he was not guilty of these false accusations.”
Justice Matthew Webber read his entire decision to the court Monday, concluding that the Crown did not meet the standard of proving its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
He cited concerns with the complainant’s memory of what happened more than 30 years ago, and a lack of evidence to corroborate her account.
“There are just too many problems, and I’m not in the business of … declaring what happened. That’s not my job, you know, my job is to just decide whether or not guilt has been proven to the requisite standard, and it hasn’t,” Webber said.
During the trial, Viau testified that one of her responsibilities on board the ship was to wake officers for night watch and other overnight duties, and that she woke Edmundson regularly during that 1991 deployment.
The court has heard conflicting evidence about the wake-up calls.
Viau estimated that she woke Edmundson every second or third night, and she told the court that his behaviour became progressively worse during the deployment.
She testified that he started sleeping naked and that one night she found him completely exposed on top of the sheets.
Viau said she “went berserk,” yelling at him and turning on the lights to wake the other officer sleeping in the top bunk.
That incident was the basis for the indecent act charge.
Webber said he did not believe that Viau could have caused such a disruption on board a navy ship at night without notice from others.
“I conclude that (Viau’s) overall evidence on the allegation that Mr. Edmundson did progressively expose himself to her as being far too compromised to approach proof of those allegations that she has made,” he said in his decision.
Viau alleged that the sexual assault happened a couple of days after her yelling at Edmundson.
She testified at trial that he stopped her in the corridor and called her into his sleeping quarters to talk. Viau said Edmundson kept her from leaving the room, and he sexually assaulted her.
When Edmundson took the stand in his own defence he denied having physical or sexual contact with Viau.
During his testimony, Edmundson also said Viau did not wake him regularly during that deployment because his role as the ship’s navigator kept him on mostly day shifts.
Defence lawyer Brian Greenspan took aim at the Crown’s corroborating witness during cross-examination. The woman, whose name is protected by a court-ordered publication ban, was a friend of Viau’s on the ship.
She testified that she remembered the evening of the assault because she and Viau had been getting ready for a night out during a port visit, and she misplaced her reading glasses. She said Viau offered to go fetch them from another part of the ship but never came back, and that she went looking for her friend.
On cross-examination, the woman explained that she had told all of this to a CBC reporter in early 2021.
Greenspan produced a transcript of that interview that he said suggests the reporter told her key details of Viau’s story before asking her any questions.
Greenspan argued the reporter provided information to the witness and she wouldn’t have been able to corroborate the story otherwise.
In his decision, Webber said the woman’s evidence “cannot be relied upon in any respect to corroborate that evidence of the complainant, because it’s it’s clearly a tainted recollection, doesn’t represent a real memory.”
Edmundson was one of several senior military leaders accused of sexual misconduct in early 2021.
He stepped down from his position as head of military personnel after the accusation against him was made public in 2021. The charges were laid months later, in December 2021.
Edmundson testified that in February 2022, he was directed by the chief of the defence staff to retire from the Armed Forces.
The crisis led to an external review by former Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour in May 2022, whose report called for sweeping changes to reform the toxic culture of the Armed Forces.
The military’s new defence chief, Gen. Jennie Carignan, was promoted to the newly created role of chief of professional conduct and culture in an effort to enact the reforms in the Arbour report.
Outside court, Edmundson declined to comment on whether he was considering legal action against the government or the military.
Former military leader Haydn Edmundson found not guilty of sexual assault
Former vice-admiral Haydn Edmundson has been found not guilty of sexual assault and committing an indecent act.
DND didn’t apologize to sexually assaulted employee because Ottawa Citizen would write about it
Newly released documents show Canadian Forces did not send Kristen Adams an apology because it feared she would "be coming back with more media coverage.”
Author of the article
avid Pugliese • Ottawa Citizen
Published Oct 21, 2024 • Last updated 2 days ago • 4 minute read
Management of the Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services declined to apologize to an employee who was sexually assaulted in Latvia because they didn’t want the mea culpa reported on by the Ottawa Citizen, newly released documents reveal.
Kristen Adams, a civilian who worked for the welfare services group, was sexually assaulted by a NATO soldier during her shift at the canteen operated by Canada for troops in Latvia, according to military police records.
Details of the assault and how poorly Adams was treated by Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS) management were first reported in the Ottawa Citizen in October 2023, prompting staff at the agency to angrily raise concerns about the organization’s failure to help a fellow worker.
That criticism, in turn, forced Chief Executive Officer Ian Poulter to issue an apology to all CFMWS staff for the way the incident was handled, although he excluded Adams.
Now, newly released records show why Poulter never sent Adams a direct apology, even though one was written up.
“Because the story was unfolding in the pages of the Ottawa Citizen, we did not want to correspond with Ms. Adams in writing because we didn’t want to perpetuate that cycle,” Department of National Defence (DND) officials wrote.
The internal records were obtained by Adams through her request using the federal privacy law.
“I never did get an apology from him (Poulter),” Adams told the Ottawa Citizen. “That shows you they don’t think they did anything wrong in all of this. It’s disgusting.”
Poulter, a retired major general, did not respond to a request for comment on why he refused to apologize to Adams.
DND did not provide comment.
The CFMWS, based in Ottawa, provides various programs and services for the military.
Canadian military police reports and documents noted Adams was sexually assaulted when an Albanian soldier grabbed her breast on Dec. 3, 2022.
But, after Adams filed a formal complaint about the assault, she was told in writing by a vice-president at CFMWS that she should have realized she would face such dangers when accepting a job supporting Canada’s military mission in Latvia.
Adams said CFMWS failed to properly respond to the attack or provide her with help. She believes the Canadian military and CFMWS are trying to sweep the incident under the rug because they don’t want to cause any embarrassment for the Canadian Armed Forces high-profile mission in Latvia.
Months after the assault, Adams wrote to Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre and other senior military leaders asking for help. Adams said she didn’t receive a reply from Eyre.
Instead, the DND records indicate that military and department officials were more concerned about whether other news media outlets would pick up on the Ottawa Citizen articles about the incident.
Eyre’s chief of staff Brig. Gen. Brendan Cook warned Poulter in an Oct. 25, 2023 email that “Ms. Adams is likely to be coming back with more media coverage.”
Cook also raised concerns that Defence Minister Anita Anand’s office could take an interest in the matter. “Of note, we recently got some pressure from MNDO [Minister National Defence Office] about the recent internal message to CFWMS staff that was cited in the press for not apologizing to Ms. Adams,” Cook wrote to Poulter in an email.
The documents also showed that some CFMWS managers belittled Adams and claimed that the attack never happened.
But multiple DND and military records do confirm the sexual assault occurred. One of the reports noted that after the assault the Albanian soldier returned to Adams’ work station looking for her.
Shortly after the assault, Adams’ contract was ended two months early by CFMWS. That decision was made “in order to ensure there is no further risk to your health,” according to a Feb. 3 2023 letter sent to Adams by the organization. CFMWS gave her $11,833, which paid her out for the early termination of her contract.
On May 10, 2023, Adams received a letter from CFMWS stating the organization had “gone above and beyond in its efforts to support you” and that it would “no longer entertain further complaints or correspondence from you regarding this issue.”
Canadian military police told Adams that, under NATO rules, they had no jurisdiction to investigate even though the incident took place at a Canadian facility.
Latvian military police were brought in to examine the case, but Adams pointed out they did not interview any witnesses. The only interviews conducted were with her and the Albanian soldier, she added.
On Dec. 14, 2022, Latvian military police decided they would not investigate further. Another review by Latvia concluded no criminal act had taken place.
However, Canadian military police did create a “shadow file” on Jan. 3, 2023, with details of the incident. (A shadow file is a Canadian Armed Forces document about an issue the military has an interest in, but not direct control over.) Those details and that report do not dispute Adams’ version of events, and they termed the incident a sexual assault.
torontosun.com
Newly released documents show Canadian Forces did not send Kristen Adams an apology because it feared she would "be coming back with more media coverage.”
Author of the article
avid Pugliese • Ottawa CitizenPublished Oct 21, 2024 • Last updated 2 days ago • 4 minute read
Management of the Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services declined to apologize to an employee who was sexually assaulted in Latvia because they didn’t want the mea culpa reported on by the Ottawa Citizen, newly released documents reveal.
Kristen Adams, a civilian who worked for the welfare services group, was sexually assaulted by a NATO soldier during her shift at the canteen operated by Canada for troops in Latvia, according to military police records.
Details of the assault and how poorly Adams was treated by Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS) management were first reported in the Ottawa Citizen in October 2023, prompting staff at the agency to angrily raise concerns about the organization’s failure to help a fellow worker.
That criticism, in turn, forced Chief Executive Officer Ian Poulter to issue an apology to all CFMWS staff for the way the incident was handled, although he excluded Adams.
Now, newly released records show why Poulter never sent Adams a direct apology, even though one was written up.
“Because the story was unfolding in the pages of the Ottawa Citizen, we did not want to correspond with Ms. Adams in writing because we didn’t want to perpetuate that cycle,” Department of National Defence (DND) officials wrote.
The internal records were obtained by Adams through her request using the federal privacy law.
“I never did get an apology from him (Poulter),” Adams told the Ottawa Citizen. “That shows you they don’t think they did anything wrong in all of this. It’s disgusting.”
Poulter, a retired major general, did not respond to a request for comment on why he refused to apologize to Adams.
DND did not provide comment.
The CFMWS, based in Ottawa, provides various programs and services for the military.
Canadian military police reports and documents noted Adams was sexually assaulted when an Albanian soldier grabbed her breast on Dec. 3, 2022.
But, after Adams filed a formal complaint about the assault, she was told in writing by a vice-president at CFMWS that she should have realized she would face such dangers when accepting a job supporting Canada’s military mission in Latvia.
Adams said CFMWS failed to properly respond to the attack or provide her with help. She believes the Canadian military and CFMWS are trying to sweep the incident under the rug because they don’t want to cause any embarrassment for the Canadian Armed Forces high-profile mission in Latvia.
Months after the assault, Adams wrote to Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre and other senior military leaders asking for help. Adams said she didn’t receive a reply from Eyre.
Instead, the DND records indicate that military and department officials were more concerned about whether other news media outlets would pick up on the Ottawa Citizen articles about the incident.
Eyre’s chief of staff Brig. Gen. Brendan Cook warned Poulter in an Oct. 25, 2023 email that “Ms. Adams is likely to be coming back with more media coverage.”
Cook also raised concerns that Defence Minister Anita Anand’s office could take an interest in the matter. “Of note, we recently got some pressure from MNDO [Minister National Defence Office] about the recent internal message to CFWMS staff that was cited in the press for not apologizing to Ms. Adams,” Cook wrote to Poulter in an email.
The documents also showed that some CFMWS managers belittled Adams and claimed that the attack never happened.
But multiple DND and military records do confirm the sexual assault occurred. One of the reports noted that after the assault the Albanian soldier returned to Adams’ work station looking for her.
Shortly after the assault, Adams’ contract was ended two months early by CFMWS. That decision was made “in order to ensure there is no further risk to your health,” according to a Feb. 3 2023 letter sent to Adams by the organization. CFMWS gave her $11,833, which paid her out for the early termination of her contract.
On May 10, 2023, Adams received a letter from CFMWS stating the organization had “gone above and beyond in its efforts to support you” and that it would “no longer entertain further complaints or correspondence from you regarding this issue.”
Canadian military police told Adams that, under NATO rules, they had no jurisdiction to investigate even though the incident took place at a Canadian facility.
Latvian military police were brought in to examine the case, but Adams pointed out they did not interview any witnesses. The only interviews conducted were with her and the Albanian soldier, she added.
On Dec. 14, 2022, Latvian military police decided they would not investigate further. Another review by Latvia concluded no criminal act had taken place.
However, Canadian military police did create a “shadow file” on Jan. 3, 2023, with details of the incident. (A shadow file is a Canadian Armed Forces document about an issue the military has an interest in, but not direct control over.) Those details and that report do not dispute Adams’ version of events, and they termed the incident a sexual assault.
DND didn’t apologize to sexually assaulted employee because Ottawa Citizen would write about it
Documents show Canadian Forces did not send Kristen Adams an apology because it feared she would "be coming back with more media coverage.”
Watchdog slams Canadian military police for failing to review sexual assault investigation
Kristen Adams complained that Canadian military police failed to properly investigate her sexual assault in Latvia.
Author of the articleavid Pugliese • Ottawa Citizen
Published Jan 16, 2025 • Last updated 1 day ago • 4 minute read
A government watchdog has slammed military police leadership for failing to review the sexual assault investigation of a civilian worker at a Canadian installation in Latvia.
It has been more than 420 days since Kristen Adams filed her complaint about how Canadian military police handled the investigation into her sexual assault yet no action has been taken.
On Jan. 8, Tammy Tremblay, chairperson of the Military Police Complaints Commission, wrote to Brig.-Gen. Vanessa Hanrahan to point out that no investigator has even been assigned to look into the serious concerns raised by Adams.
Adams, a civilian working for Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS), was sexually assaulted by a NATO soldier during her shift at a canteen operated by Canada for troops in Latvia, military police records show.
But Adams complained that Canadian military police failed to properly conduct their investigation as well as preserve evidence.
“The continual delay, especially considering the serious allegations and the potential loss of evidence, exacerbates the emotional and psychological trauma the complainant has already endured,” Tremblay wrote to Hanrahan about Adams’ complaint. “Delays in investigating allegations of deficiencies in (a) sexual assault allegation erodes the confidence of the public in both the military police and the complaint process established by Parliament.”
Canadian military police reports and documents noted Adams was sexually assaulted by an Albanian soldier on Dec. 3, 2022. But police said there was little they could do as they didn’t have jurisdiction in Latvia.
Adams also filed a formal complaint about the assault with CFMWS, which is based in Ottawa. But she was told in writing by a vice-president at CFMWS that she should have realized she would face such dangers when accepting a job supporting Canada’s military mission in Latvia.
Adams said CFMWS failed to properly respond to the attack or provide her with help. She believes the Canadian military and CFMWS are trying to sweep the incident under the rug because they don’t want to cause any embarrassment for the Canadian Armed Forces high-profile mission in Latvia.
Lt.-Cmdr. Melanie Aqiqi, a spokesperson for the provost marshal’s office, sent an email to the Ottawa Citizen, noting the conduct of military police personnel and the investigation of complaints is critical to maintaining trust. “The Office of the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal is moving as expeditiously as possible to resolve complaints in a diligent, fair, and thorough manner,” the email added.
Details of the assault and how poorly Adams was treated by CFMWS management were first reported in the Ottawa Citizen in October 2023, prompting staff at the agency to angrily raise concerns about the organization’s failure to help a fellow worker.
That criticism, in turn, forced Chief Executive Officer Ian Poulter to issue an apology to all CFMWS staff for the way the incident was handled, although he excluded Adams.
Department of National Defence records, obtained by Adams, showed that Poulter never sent the worker a direct apology, even though one was written up.
“Because the story was unfolding in the pages of the Ottawa Citizen, we did not want to correspond with Ms. Adams in writing because we didn’t want to perpetuate that cycle,” DND officials wrote.
Poulter, a retired major general, has not responded to a request for comment.
Tammy Tremblay, chairperson of the Military Police Complaints Commission, sent a letter on Jan. 8 pointing out that no investigator has even been assigned to the complaint.
Months after the assault, Adams wrote to then Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre and other senior military leaders asking for help. Adams said she didn’t receive a reply from Eyre.
Instead, the DND records indicate that military and department officials were more concerned about whether other news media outlets would pick up on the Ottawa Citizen articles about the incident.
Eyre’s chief of staff Brig. Gen. Brendan Cook warned Poulter in an Oct. 25, 2023 email that “Ms. Adams is likely to be coming back with more media coverage.”
The documents also showed that some CFMWS managers belittled Adams and claimed that the attack never happened. But multiple DND and military records do confirm the sexual assault occurred. One of the reports noted that after the assault the Albanian soldier returned to Adams’ work station looking for her.
Shortly after the assault, Adams’ contract was ended two months early by CFMWS.
On May 10, 2023, Adams received a letter from CFMWS saying the organization had “gone above and beyond in its efforts to support you” and that it would “no longer entertain further complaints or correspondence from you regarding this issue.”
David Pugliese is an award-winning journalist covering Canadian Forces and military issues in Canada. To support his work, including exclusive content for subscribers only, sign up here: ottawacitizen.com/subscribe
torontosun.com
Kristen Adams complained that Canadian military police failed to properly investigate her sexual assault in Latvia.
Author of the article
avid Pugliese • Ottawa CitizenPublished Jan 16, 2025 • Last updated 1 day ago • 4 minute read
A government watchdog has slammed military police leadership for failing to review the sexual assault investigation of a civilian worker at a Canadian installation in Latvia.
It has been more than 420 days since Kristen Adams filed her complaint about how Canadian military police handled the investigation into her sexual assault yet no action has been taken.
On Jan. 8, Tammy Tremblay, chairperson of the Military Police Complaints Commission, wrote to Brig.-Gen. Vanessa Hanrahan to point out that no investigator has even been assigned to look into the serious concerns raised by Adams.
Adams, a civilian working for Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS), was sexually assaulted by a NATO soldier during her shift at a canteen operated by Canada for troops in Latvia, military police records show.
But Adams complained that Canadian military police failed to properly conduct their investigation as well as preserve evidence.
“The continual delay, especially considering the serious allegations and the potential loss of evidence, exacerbates the emotional and psychological trauma the complainant has already endured,” Tremblay wrote to Hanrahan about Adams’ complaint. “Delays in investigating allegations of deficiencies in (a) sexual assault allegation erodes the confidence of the public in both the military police and the complaint process established by Parliament.”
Canadian military police reports and documents noted Adams was sexually assaulted by an Albanian soldier on Dec. 3, 2022. But police said there was little they could do as they didn’t have jurisdiction in Latvia.
Adams also filed a formal complaint about the assault with CFMWS, which is based in Ottawa. But she was told in writing by a vice-president at CFMWS that she should have realized she would face such dangers when accepting a job supporting Canada’s military mission in Latvia.
Adams said CFMWS failed to properly respond to the attack or provide her with help. She believes the Canadian military and CFMWS are trying to sweep the incident under the rug because they don’t want to cause any embarrassment for the Canadian Armed Forces high-profile mission in Latvia.
Lt.-Cmdr. Melanie Aqiqi, a spokesperson for the provost marshal’s office, sent an email to the Ottawa Citizen, noting the conduct of military police personnel and the investigation of complaints is critical to maintaining trust. “The Office of the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal is moving as expeditiously as possible to resolve complaints in a diligent, fair, and thorough manner,” the email added.
Details of the assault and how poorly Adams was treated by CFMWS management were first reported in the Ottawa Citizen in October 2023, prompting staff at the agency to angrily raise concerns about the organization’s failure to help a fellow worker.
That criticism, in turn, forced Chief Executive Officer Ian Poulter to issue an apology to all CFMWS staff for the way the incident was handled, although he excluded Adams.
Department of National Defence records, obtained by Adams, showed that Poulter never sent the worker a direct apology, even though one was written up.
“Because the story was unfolding in the pages of the Ottawa Citizen, we did not want to correspond with Ms. Adams in writing because we didn’t want to perpetuate that cycle,” DND officials wrote.
Poulter, a retired major general, has not responded to a request for comment.
Tammy Tremblay, chairperson of the Military Police Complaints Commission, sent a letter on Jan. 8 pointing out that no investigator has even been assigned to the complaint.
Months after the assault, Adams wrote to then Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre and other senior military leaders asking for help. Adams said she didn’t receive a reply from Eyre.
Instead, the DND records indicate that military and department officials were more concerned about whether other news media outlets would pick up on the Ottawa Citizen articles about the incident.
Eyre’s chief of staff Brig. Gen. Brendan Cook warned Poulter in an Oct. 25, 2023 email that “Ms. Adams is likely to be coming back with more media coverage.”
The documents also showed that some CFMWS managers belittled Adams and claimed that the attack never happened. But multiple DND and military records do confirm the sexual assault occurred. One of the reports noted that after the assault the Albanian soldier returned to Adams’ work station looking for her.
Shortly after the assault, Adams’ contract was ended two months early by CFMWS.
On May 10, 2023, Adams received a letter from CFMWS saying the organization had “gone above and beyond in its efforts to support you” and that it would “no longer entertain further complaints or correspondence from you regarding this issue.”
David Pugliese is an award-winning journalist covering Canadian Forces and military issues in Canada. To support his work, including exclusive content for subscribers only, sign up here: ottawacitizen.com/subscribe
Watchdog slams Canadian military police for failing to review sexual assault investigation
A watchdog has blasted military police for failing to review a sexual assault investigation at Canadian base in Latvia.
The stupid thing, this is what the US wanted. Back in the 1950s we developed an interceptor (Avro Arrow) that could not only break Mach 2, it could potentially be used as a low Earth orbit launch vehicle. This scared the shit out of the US govt and it's MIC since they were supposed to be the big leaders in military tech. The US convinced Canada to scrap the Arrow by telling us they would look after our defense, thus killing any incentive to have much of an MIC ourselves. That's how we ended up with the Dew Line now known as the North Warning System. And no US govt since then has had a problem with it. Other than Trump's problem with our laggardly NATO spending, which I fully agree with him on and have been saying something about for far longer than he has.
And you can bet your ass the US would defend us if Ruzzia invaded. The US already has to deal with proximity to Ruzzia in Alaska. They sure as hell ain't gonna want Ruzzia to be in Canada. I mean let's face it, the only two countries that would invade us militarily would be either the US or Ruzzia.
And actually, there's grumblings in the Kremlin about how poorly the war in Ukraine is going and it appears they're preparing for a little Arctic action to gain more influence there while everyone's focused on Ukraine. They've already dispatched the largest surface naval vessel on the planet to the Barents Sea. Some massive missile-armed battlecruiser.
Trump's only problem is that we are not paying our fair share and pulling our weight in the defense of North America
A lot of people don't think we're paying our fair share. I've thought it for years, said as much, too. We DO need to do more, spend more, on defence.
Oh no, no we don't need to do that! We can... take the money from other programs! Like... all the allotted spending we earmark for other countries so that in helping them their problems don't come to us in one way or another, and... social programs... it still won't be enough but it's a start!
But no, no raising taxes what so ever!
(I hope the sarcasm is clear on that)
Why is our military in dire straights?
The Trudeau Liberals took a large portion of our military equipment, donated it to Ukraine, and never replaced it.
Then, they targeted the leadership, appointed a yes man, handed out rainbow flags, pushed identity politics, and eliminated discipline, which seriously damaged morale and operational effectiveness.
A cult that had zero fucking idea what it was doing and didn't care.
The Trudeau Liberals took a large portion of our military equipment, donated it to Ukraine, and never replaced it.
Then, they targeted the leadership, appointed a yes man, handed out rainbow flags, pushed identity politics, and eliminated discipline, which seriously damaged morale and operational effectiveness.
A cult that had zero fucking idea what it was doing and didn't care.
Almost three-quarters of Canadian troops are overweight or obese, documents show
The Canadian military has higher obesity rates than the general population, according to an internal briefing
Author of the articleavid Pugliese • Ottawa Citizen
Published Jan 27, 2025 • Last updated 1 day ago • 5 minute read
Military leaders have been warned that Canada’s troops are becoming increasingly overweight and obese, with 72 per cent of armed forces personnel falling into those two categories.
“Obesity prevalence has been slowly increasing for many years,” senior leaders were warned in a series of briefings in June 2024 conducted by officials with Canadian Forces Health Services.
That, in turn, has been associated with an increase in sick days and medical releases as well as reduced readiness and productivity.
Forty-four percent of personnel in the Canadian Armed Forces are considered overweight while 28 per cent are classified as obese, according to the briefings.
The briefings for the leaders of the army, navy and air force were obtained through the Access to Information Act by Ottawa-based researcher Ken Rubin.
Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members have much higher levels of physical activity than the overall Canadian population, the briefings noted.
But the military also had higher rates of obesity. Sixty-eight per cent of Canadian men were considered obese or overweight, while that rate was 78 per cent for men in the military, the briefings pointed out. Fifty-three per cent of Canadian women were considered obese or overweight while in the military that figure is 57 per cent.
One of the reports for the senior leadership concluded that “increasing physical activity level will not resolve the challenges of obesity in the CAF.”
To deal with the problem, military health specialists suggested promoting a culture of fitness through physical activity, injury prevention, sleep and nutrition.
Rubin said that the Canadian Forces and Department of National Defence tried to hide the reports in question. He submitted two requests under the Access to Information Act in July 2024 for records discussing data on the overall physical fitness status of military personnel as well as documents about weight. But DND’s access-to-information branch informed Rubin that a “thorough and complete search” of records was conducted and not a single document could be found.
Rubin then submitted a similar request to the Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS), an organization separate from DND, and received 141 pages of records. That included the briefings produced by DND and Canadian Forces staff on obesity and physical fitness in the ranks and presented directly to the heads of the army, navy and air force.
“I think (DND) was hiding the records because they’re embarrassed,” Rubin said in an interview. “This is information that people have a right to know and information of consequence. Is the military fighting fit or not?”
DND spokesperson Andrée-Anne Poulin said in an email that DND did not search CFMWS files as it is a separate organization with its own access-to-information branch. But there was no explanation for why DND did not provide Rubin with the obesity reports produced by senior military staff and written for the heads of the army, navy and air force. “DND claimed it had no such records even though the briefings clearly have a DND and Canadian Forces logo on them,” Rubin said.
CFMWS had duplicate copies of those reports in their data banks and properly followed the law by releasing them, while DND had the same records but claimed they didn’t exist, Rubin added.
The Canadian military and DND have faced ongoing criticism at the House of Commons defence committee for its culture of secrecy as well as its failure to follow the Access to Information Act.
Poulin also stated in her email that Canadian military data on obesity is, in part, based an individual’s self-reported height and weight, which serves to calculate a Body Mass Index or BMI. “CAF surveys also study eating patterns, barriers to healthy eating, and chronic conditions,” Poulin added. “BMI at the population level is a practical and useful tool, especially to compare data over time, even if it has limitations.”
The Canadian military has a number of programs to improve the health and well-being of military personnel, she added. Those include physical fitness regimes, a new nutritional course and customized health and wellness workshops, Poulin said.
Similar warnings about poor health and obesity were also contained in an October 2024 briefing prepared for Lt. Gen. Lise Bourgon, chief of military personnel. That briefing, leaked to the Ottawa Citizen, noted that obesity rates were up in the military. It pointed out that 61 per cent of regular force personnel reported that their physical health had gotten worse since 2020.
Rubin said that his access-to-information requests also asked for statistics on numbers of personnel who have been removed from the military because of weight issues.
A 1992 article in the Ottawa Citizen reported the military had a policy of kicking out people it determined were physically unfit. Those considered overweight were required to take a six-month physical fitness program and follow a diet for six months. If they did not reduce their weight they were put on probation and could be removed from the military if no improvements in fitness were made, according to information provided at that time by the Canadian Forces.
But Poulin said in her email that the Canadian Forces does not track data “on the number of members who have been subject to administrative action or release in relation to physical fitness issues that may cause medical employment limitations.”
Poulin noted that when circumstances call into question a military member’s suitability for continued service in the Canadian Forces, an administrative review may be conducted. “An administrative review determines the most appropriate action, if any, to deal with the matter, and is conducted in a transparent manner with a focus on procedural fairness,” she said.
A 1989 Canadian Forces study found that five per cent of the then-88,000 regular force was obese while another 17 per cent was considered overweight. In comparison 15 per cent of Canadians were considered obese and 15 per cent overweight, according to the study.
David Pugliese is an award-winning journalist covering Canadian Forces and military issues in Canada. To support his work, including exclusive content for subscribers only, sign up here: ottawacitizen.com/subscribe
torontosun.com
The Canadian military has higher obesity rates than the general population, according to an internal briefing
Author of the article
avid Pugliese • Ottawa CitizenPublished Jan 27, 2025 • Last updated 1 day ago • 5 minute read
Military leaders have been warned that Canada’s troops are becoming increasingly overweight and obese, with 72 per cent of armed forces personnel falling into those two categories.
“Obesity prevalence has been slowly increasing for many years,” senior leaders were warned in a series of briefings in June 2024 conducted by officials with Canadian Forces Health Services.
That, in turn, has been associated with an increase in sick days and medical releases as well as reduced readiness and productivity.
Forty-four percent of personnel in the Canadian Armed Forces are considered overweight while 28 per cent are classified as obese, according to the briefings.
The briefings for the leaders of the army, navy and air force were obtained through the Access to Information Act by Ottawa-based researcher Ken Rubin.
Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members have much higher levels of physical activity than the overall Canadian population, the briefings noted.
But the military also had higher rates of obesity. Sixty-eight per cent of Canadian men were considered obese or overweight, while that rate was 78 per cent for men in the military, the briefings pointed out. Fifty-three per cent of Canadian women were considered obese or overweight while in the military that figure is 57 per cent.
One of the reports for the senior leadership concluded that “increasing physical activity level will not resolve the challenges of obesity in the CAF.”
To deal with the problem, military health specialists suggested promoting a culture of fitness through physical activity, injury prevention, sleep and nutrition.
Rubin said that the Canadian Forces and Department of National Defence tried to hide the reports in question. He submitted two requests under the Access to Information Act in July 2024 for records discussing data on the overall physical fitness status of military personnel as well as documents about weight. But DND’s access-to-information branch informed Rubin that a “thorough and complete search” of records was conducted and not a single document could be found.
Rubin then submitted a similar request to the Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS), an organization separate from DND, and received 141 pages of records. That included the briefings produced by DND and Canadian Forces staff on obesity and physical fitness in the ranks and presented directly to the heads of the army, navy and air force.
“I think (DND) was hiding the records because they’re embarrassed,” Rubin said in an interview. “This is information that people have a right to know and information of consequence. Is the military fighting fit or not?”
DND spokesperson Andrée-Anne Poulin said in an email that DND did not search CFMWS files as it is a separate organization with its own access-to-information branch. But there was no explanation for why DND did not provide Rubin with the obesity reports produced by senior military staff and written for the heads of the army, navy and air force. “DND claimed it had no such records even though the briefings clearly have a DND and Canadian Forces logo on them,” Rubin said.
CFMWS had duplicate copies of those reports in their data banks and properly followed the law by releasing them, while DND had the same records but claimed they didn’t exist, Rubin added.
The Canadian military and DND have faced ongoing criticism at the House of Commons defence committee for its culture of secrecy as well as its failure to follow the Access to Information Act.
Poulin also stated in her email that Canadian military data on obesity is, in part, based an individual’s self-reported height and weight, which serves to calculate a Body Mass Index or BMI. “CAF surveys also study eating patterns, barriers to healthy eating, and chronic conditions,” Poulin added. “BMI at the population level is a practical and useful tool, especially to compare data over time, even if it has limitations.”
The Canadian military has a number of programs to improve the health and well-being of military personnel, she added. Those include physical fitness regimes, a new nutritional course and customized health and wellness workshops, Poulin said.
Similar warnings about poor health and obesity were also contained in an October 2024 briefing prepared for Lt. Gen. Lise Bourgon, chief of military personnel. That briefing, leaked to the Ottawa Citizen, noted that obesity rates were up in the military. It pointed out that 61 per cent of regular force personnel reported that their physical health had gotten worse since 2020.
Rubin said that his access-to-information requests also asked for statistics on numbers of personnel who have been removed from the military because of weight issues.
A 1992 article in the Ottawa Citizen reported the military had a policy of kicking out people it determined were physically unfit. Those considered overweight were required to take a six-month physical fitness program and follow a diet for six months. If they did not reduce their weight they were put on probation and could be removed from the military if no improvements in fitness were made, according to information provided at that time by the Canadian Forces.
But Poulin said in her email that the Canadian Forces does not track data “on the number of members who have been subject to administrative action or release in relation to physical fitness issues that may cause medical employment limitations.”
Poulin noted that when circumstances call into question a military member’s suitability for continued service in the Canadian Forces, an administrative review may be conducted. “An administrative review determines the most appropriate action, if any, to deal with the matter, and is conducted in a transparent manner with a focus on procedural fairness,” she said.
A 1989 Canadian Forces study found that five per cent of the then-88,000 regular force was obese while another 17 per cent was considered overweight. In comparison 15 per cent of Canadians were considered obese and 15 per cent overweight, according to the study.
David Pugliese is an award-winning journalist covering Canadian Forces and military issues in Canada. To support his work, including exclusive content for subscribers only, sign up here: ottawacitizen.com/subscribe
Almost three-quarters of Canadian troops are overweight or obese: documents
The Canadian military has higher obesity rates than the general population, according to an internal briefing.
That's likely because they can't afford to do training. When hubby was in the military, believe me, the men/women were in shape! So, when a government, specifically Liberals (because it was the same under PET) the military suffers due to the lack of resources because Libs hate the military!Almost three-quarters of Canadian troops are overweight or obese, documents show
The Canadian military has higher obesity rates than the general population, according to an internal briefing
Author of the article
Published Jan 27, 2025 • Last updated 1 day ago • 5 minute read
Military leaders have been warned that Canada’s troops are becoming increasingly overweight and obese, with 72 per cent of armed forces personnel falling into those two categories.
“Obesity prevalence has been slowly increasing for many years,” senior leaders were warned in a series of briefings in June 2024 conducted by officials with Canadian Forces Health Services.
That, in turn, has been associated with an increase in sick days and medical releases as well as reduced readiness and productivity.
Forty-four percent of personnel in the Canadian Armed Forces are considered overweight while 28 per cent are classified as obese, according to the briefings.
The briefings for the leaders of the army, navy and air force were obtained through the Access to Information Act by Ottawa-based researcher Ken Rubin.
Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members have much higher levels of physical activity than the overall Canadian population, the briefings noted.
But the military also had higher rates of obesity. Sixty-eight per cent of Canadian men were considered obese or overweight, while that rate was 78 per cent for men in the military, the briefings pointed out. Fifty-three per cent of Canadian women were considered obese or overweight while in the military that figure is 57 per cent.
One of the reports for the senior leadership concluded that “increasing physical activity level will not resolve the challenges of obesity in the CAF.”
To deal with the problem, military health specialists suggested promoting a culture of fitness through physical activity, injury prevention, sleep and nutrition.
Rubin said that the Canadian Forces and Department of National Defence tried to hide the reports in question. He submitted two requests under the Access to Information Act in July 2024 for records discussing data on the overall physical fitness status of military personnel as well as documents about weight. But DND’s access-to-information branch informed Rubin that a “thorough and complete search” of records was conducted and not a single document could be found.
Rubin then submitted a similar request to the Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS), an organization separate from DND, and received 141 pages of records. That included the briefings produced by DND and Canadian Forces staff on obesity and physical fitness in the ranks and presented directly to the heads of the army, navy and air force.
“I think (DND) was hiding the records because they’re embarrassed,” Rubin said in an interview. “This is information that people have a right to know and information of consequence. Is the military fighting fit or not?”
DND spokesperson Andrée-Anne Poulin said in an email that DND did not search CFMWS files as it is a separate organization with its own access-to-information branch. But there was no explanation for why DND did not provide Rubin with the obesity reports produced by senior military staff and written for the heads of the army, navy and air force. “DND claimed it had no such records even though the briefings clearly have a DND and Canadian Forces logo on them,” Rubin said.
CFMWS had duplicate copies of those reports in their data banks and properly followed the law by releasing them, while DND had the same records but claimed they didn’t exist, Rubin added.
The Canadian military and DND have faced ongoing criticism at the House of Commons defence committee for its culture of secrecy as well as its failure to follow the Access to Information Act.
Poulin also stated in her email that Canadian military data on obesity is, in part, based an individual’s self-reported height and weight, which serves to calculate a Body Mass Index or BMI. “CAF surveys also study eating patterns, barriers to healthy eating, and chronic conditions,” Poulin added. “BMI at the population level is a practical and useful tool, especially to compare data over time, even if it has limitations.”
The Canadian military has a number of programs to improve the health and well-being of military personnel, she added. Those include physical fitness regimes, a new nutritional course and customized health and wellness workshops, Poulin said.
Similar warnings about poor health and obesity were also contained in an October 2024 briefing prepared for Lt. Gen. Lise Bourgon, chief of military personnel. That briefing, leaked to the Ottawa Citizen, noted that obesity rates were up in the military. It pointed out that 61 per cent of regular force personnel reported that their physical health had gotten worse since 2020.
Rubin said that his access-to-information requests also asked for statistics on numbers of personnel who have been removed from the military because of weight issues.
A 1992 article in the Ottawa Citizen reported the military had a policy of kicking out people it determined were physically unfit. Those considered overweight were required to take a six-month physical fitness program and follow a diet for six months. If they did not reduce their weight they were put on probation and could be removed from the military if no improvements in fitness were made, according to information provided at that time by the Canadian Forces.
But Poulin said in her email that the Canadian Forces does not track data “on the number of members who have been subject to administrative action or release in relation to physical fitness issues that may cause medical employment limitations.”
Poulin noted that when circumstances call into question a military member’s suitability for continued service in the Canadian Forces, an administrative review may be conducted. “An administrative review determines the most appropriate action, if any, to deal with the matter, and is conducted in a transparent manner with a focus on procedural fairness,” she said.
A 1989 Canadian Forces study found that five per cent of the then-88,000 regular force was obese while another 17 per cent was considered overweight. In comparison 15 per cent of Canadians were considered obese and 15 per cent overweight, according to the study.
David Pugliese is an award-winning journalist covering Canadian Forces and military issues in Canada. To support his work, including exclusive content for subscribers only, sign up here: ottawacitizen.com/subscribe
Almost three-quarters of Canadian troops are overweight or obese: documents
The Canadian military has higher obesity rates than the general population, according to an internal briefing.
The United States emerged from the Second World War as the most powerful economic, military and cultural dynamo in the history of nation states. Back then, we stood our ground as a dominant force in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. We went along with the American agenda at the United Nations, at the World Trade Organization and the World Economic Forum. We played along.
We fought alongside Americans in the Korean War, but not for the Americans, as it’s often claimed. The Korean conflict was a defensive operation authorized by the United Nations. It was the first and last time the UN went to war.
We stayed out of Vietnam. Instead, we welcomed American draft dodgers who ended up forming the largest single cohort of immigrants in the latter half of the 20th century, a powerful cultural force in the university faculties, the civil service and in politics who gave us that peculiarly American-inflected and enfeebling anti-Americanism that was ingested whole by Canada’s boomers.
We stayed out of the Iraq War, too, but not, as the mythology would have it, because prime minister Jean Chrétien bravely stood up to U.S. president George Bush and said “no.” Bush never even asked. And we had nothing to offer anyway.
We didn’t stay out of Afghanistan. We went in with our boots on. But despite the claim you’ll hear in our recent appeals for American trade-war mercy, we did not fight for an American cause. We fought for a sovereign Afghan republic in a NATO-commanded operation that included soldiers from as many as 50 countries. It was a righteous cause that was ultimately betrayed by Trump’s surrender to the Taliban in 2020 and Joe Biden’s ignominious withdrawal in 2021.
For every cliché about Canada enjoying the privilege of living under the “American security umbrella,” it was always to Washington’s benefit that Canada was America’s best friend. When we prospered, we prospered with the Americans, and they with us. We did so by keeping our heads down, and our great fortune was that Americans weren’t especially interested in paying attention to us anyway.
apple.news
But we’re just now emerging from a decade shaped by a prime ministerial retard who craved the American limelight and sought it out obsessively. From the beginning, Trudeau championed every annoying fad and frivolous cause taken up by American “progressives” whose policy preoccupations are now being turned to rubble from the wrecking-ball onslaught of Donald Trump’s weirdly-mutated Republican Party.
We’re at a crossroads, with hard choices to make.
We fought alongside Americans in the Korean War, but not for the Americans, as it’s often claimed. The Korean conflict was a defensive operation authorized by the United Nations. It was the first and last time the UN went to war.
We stayed out of Vietnam. Instead, we welcomed American draft dodgers who ended up forming the largest single cohort of immigrants in the latter half of the 20th century, a powerful cultural force in the university faculties, the civil service and in politics who gave us that peculiarly American-inflected and enfeebling anti-Americanism that was ingested whole by Canada’s boomers.
We stayed out of the Iraq War, too, but not, as the mythology would have it, because prime minister Jean Chrétien bravely stood up to U.S. president George Bush and said “no.” Bush never even asked. And we had nothing to offer anyway.
We didn’t stay out of Afghanistan. We went in with our boots on. But despite the claim you’ll hear in our recent appeals for American trade-war mercy, we did not fight for an American cause. We fought for a sovereign Afghan republic in a NATO-commanded operation that included soldiers from as many as 50 countries. It was a righteous cause that was ultimately betrayed by Trump’s surrender to the Taliban in 2020 and Joe Biden’s ignominious withdrawal in 2021.
For every cliché about Canada enjoying the privilege of living under the “American security umbrella,” it was always to Washington’s benefit that Canada was America’s best friend. When we prospered, we prospered with the Americans, and they with us. We did so by keeping our heads down, and our great fortune was that Americans weren’t especially interested in paying attention to us anyway.
Terry Glavin: There's no turning back for Canada now — National Post
Do we have the will to persist in the resistance to American hegemony that was at the heart of our founding prime minister's grand visions?
We’re at a crossroads, with hard choices to make.
(Rick Hillier is a retired Canadian Armed Forces general who served as the chief of defence from February 2005 to July 2008. Brice Scheschuk is the managing partner at Globalive Capital and served in the Canadian Naval Reserve from 1989 to 1994. Kevin Reed is a partner at RF Piper and a retired Canadian Forces Honorary Colonel who served from 2009 to 2018)
Opinion: Two ways to boost Canadian defence spending and minimize Trump's tariff threats — National Post
The choice is clear. If we do not address our security, there will be devastating economic consequences