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Canada has apologized for many defence-related injustices — but not to the women who served in a system never designed for them. From unsafe workplaces to decades of ignored gender-specific needs, the harms were real and lasting. Until Canada names and owns these failures, its apology record remains unfinished.
As 2025 ends, the CAF faces its 2026 goal for 25% women in the ranks—a target rooted in decades of human rights rulings, employment equity law, and workforce research, not symbolism. Set in 2010 as “ambitious but achievable,” it aims to strengthen operational capability by drawing on Canada’s full talent pool.
The Veteran and Family Well-Being Fund has spent $70M since 2018, yet Veterans Affairs Canada cannot confirm its effectiveness. Internal audits reveal vague goals, poor outcome tracking, and regional bias concerns. Only one-third of projects provided sufficient data. Veterans and taxpayers need transparency, independent audits, and evidence-based accountability.
Bloc Québécois MP Marie-Hélène Gaudreau is the swing vote on Parliament’s Veterans Affairs Committee this session. Her decisive role could shape support for Veterans nationwide, particularly in Quebec. Key priorities she may champion include memorials, well-being initiatives, oversight of funding, and action on chemical exposure-related health claims.
Australia’s bill creates an independent, survivor-centred watchdog with legal duties to prevent sexual violence and hold commanders accountable. Canada’s Bill C-11 offers administrative changes without structural reform, shifting cases to civilians and reducing military accountability. The article argues Australia’s approach protects members, while Canada’s leaves survivors burdened and institutions unchanged.