The Trudeau government is trying to quash a class-action lawsuit that alleges rampant sexual misconduct and gender discrimination within the Canadian Armed Forces, 麻豆影视 has learned.
Plaintiffs in the case allege systemic sexual harassment, sexual assault and discrimination.
Veteran Amy Graham, one of the lead plaintiffs in the case, said the Liberal government鈥檚 attempts to stop the lawsuit contradicts Prime Minister Justin Trudeau鈥檚 public support for victims of sexual misconduct.
In a recent speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trudeau said he was "unequivocal" in his support for women who come forward with allegations.
鈥淗e was on the international stage coming across as a feminist, coming across as supporting women's rights, saying how courageous it was for these women to come out, and how difficult it was. And behind the scenes nobody knows that he's trying to dismiss our case,鈥� Graham told CTV鈥檚 Mercedes Stephenson.
鈥淚'm very disappointed -- actually disgusted is probably a more accurate term.鈥�
The military has made extensive efforts to stamp out sexual misconduct. Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Jonathan Vance said last April that he planned to remove any military members found guilty of sexual misconduct. In 2017, were kicked out.
Despite those efforts, the federal government argued in court filings that it does not 鈥渙we a private law duty of care to individual members within the CAF to provide a safe and harassment-free work environment, or to create policies to prevent sexual harassment or sexual assault."
The Prime Minister鈥檚 Office would not comment on the lawsuit.
However, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan insisted the government supports victims.
鈥淲e want to encourage people to actually come forward if they have any allegations or any type of concern, and that's very important,鈥� Sajjan said.
Conservative Defence critic James Bezan says the prime minister鈥檚 words don鈥檛 match his government鈥檚 actions.
NDP MP Niki Ashton echoed similar criticism, calling the move 鈥渄eeply hypocritical.鈥�
With a report from CTV鈥檚 Mercedes Stephenson in Ottawa
