By Scott Taylor
There is a classic scene in the 1996 Hollywood film Michael Collins wherein the newly appointed head of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) vows to bring the Collins-led Irish rebels to heel.
“There is a new regime in town and it starts now” the RUC leader vows to his officers. “What you need is a bit of Belfast efficiency.” To punctuate that last sentence the IRA detonate a car bomb that blows the RUC commander to smithereens.
I was reminded of that scene last Wednesday when newly appointed Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Art McDonald issued an email to all serving members and civilian workers at the DND.
McDonald’s message was intended to restore the rank and file’s trust in their senior military leadership’s ability to stamp out sexual misconduct and racism within the CAF. “Our institution can no longer put the burden of change and transformation on those affected by harassment, discrimination, or any form of misconduct. That burden must rest on us. All of us,” stated McDonald.
For anyone wishing to bring forward allegations of misconduct, McDonald assured them they can expect to be heard, supported and protected. Although he failed to mention the need for “Belfast efficiency” it was at that moment that Admiral McDonald’s proverbial car bomb detonated.
Turns out that nearly a month earlier several service members had indeed gone forward to the military police’s National Investigation Service (NIS) with allegations that McDonald himself was involved in some alleged sexual misconduct.
Within hours of McDonald pushing the ‘send’ button on his mass email, the CBC and Ottawa Citizen were notified that the good admiral was under investigation.
To make things easier for the journalists to follow up this story, the whistleblowers were thoughtful enough to include the exact NIS case file number.
Around 3:00pm last Wednesday, the media did in fact start making inquiries at DND.
Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan issued a statement around 11:00 pm that same night confirming there was indeed an ongoing investigation. Sajjan also stated that in light of the circumstances, McDonald was “stepping aside” from his CDS post until the NIS probe is concluded.
To date the details of McDonald’s alleged transgression remain scarce. According to the victim and witnesses, the incident in question occurred in August 2010 aboard HMCS Montreal.
At the time the ship was participating in Operation NANOOK as part of a task force in the Arctic. At that juncture in his career, McDonald was a Captain (Navy) and was part of a VIP visitor group that included then CDS General Walt Natynczyk and Defence Minister Peter MacKay.
While it will likely be a challenge for the NIS detectives to investigate a more than decade-old cold case, in which alcohol is alleged to have been a contributing factor, it is the more recent timeline of events that has the potential for political and institutional fall-out.
Admiral McDonald took over as CDS from General Jonathan Vance on 14 January, 2021. Within two weeks, reporter Mercedes Stephenson at Global News broke the story that Vance had allegedly engaged in sexually inappropriate behavior.
One allegation was that Vance had an ongoing sexual affair with a junior officer beginning in 2000 and continuing until he became CDS.
The second allegation involved a 2012 email sent to a corporal, which suggested she join Vance on a clothing optional beach vacation.
Sajjan was notified about the concerns over Vance by Canadian Forces Ombudsman Gary Walbourne back in 2018.
At some point during the past few weeks as political opposition parties have been clamouring to find out who-knew-what-when about the General Vance situation, Sajjan was notified about McDonald and the Op NANOOK investigation.
We are told that while Sajjan only learned of the month-long NIS investigation shortly before last Wednesday, and that McDonald found out himself that same fateful day, the optics are not good.
Had the whistleblower not notified the Citizen and CBC of the investigation would McDonald have ‘stepped aside’ as CDS?
It is difficult to claim you ‘jumped’ to do the right thing if the whistleblower’s hand prints are clearly imprinted on your back.
Belfast efficiency at its best.
