This morning, the Canadian Military Police Complaints Commission (CPPM) released its report on my case: The CPPM is a semi-judicial civil surveillance agency that investigates complaints about military police conduct in conducting investigations. His interest in my case stems from a complaint I lodged in January 2023 indicating that the military police investigation was biased and biased. CPPM agrees with me on this.
This is good news that allows us to turn the page on this story. The report is available at the following link:
https://www.mpcc-cppm.gc.ca/.../pii-eip-2023-006-index...
I also issued a media release this morning in response to the release of the report. For those that are interested, this one is posted below.
Thank you to all of you who have stood by me during this saga, your support has made a real difference.
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Statement from Major General (Retired) Dany Fortin
"Four and a half years ago, my life was turned upside down and my military career ended suddenly and prematurely."
In May 2021, I was deployed to the Public Health Agency of Canada for six months to lead a team of experts to distribute COVID-19 vaccines across Canada. In mid-May, the National Defense announced in a press release that I had "left" this assignment "pending the results of a military investigation"; which was related to an allegation of sexual misconduct that occurred more than 30 years earlier, while I was a student at the Royal Military College of Saint-Jean, as well as other details gradually disclosed to the media. I never did what I was accused of, but I read many comments about me in the media for months after that, without having the opportunity or means to defend my honor.
In mid-August 2021, I was charged with one count of sexual assault, based on a deeply vicious investigation conducted by the Canadian Armed Forces National Investigation Service (NAFC). At my own expense, I have undertaken two forms of legal remedies: to defend myself vigorously against the prosecution and to ask the Federal Court to examine the lack of due process that had been granted to me so far.
Sixteen months later, in December 2022 I was resentfully acquitted of criminal charges and in the same month formally acquitted by the FAC of any misdemeanor offense.
At that time, the Federal Court had ruled that I had to challenge my dismissal through the army grievance system. It's the same system that retired Supreme Court Justice Morris Fish called a "failure" in his independent examination. This is the same system that General Wayne Eyre, Chief of Defense Staff, called "unacceptable" and "questions our status even as a profession and undermines the very principles of the Command." It should be noted that when I submitted access to information and privacy requests to certain well-informed offices to support my file, I was told that "there was no note."
I maintained my innocence throughout the procedure, considering that the military police investigation was clearly biased, as a result of external pressure on the Defense given the numerous public comments from politicians and the very negative media coverage of allegations of military police. professional misconduct involving several senior officers. In January 2023 I filed a formal complaint with the Military Police Complaints Commission (CPPM).
In October 2023 I settled my lawsuit against the federal government, senior officials and military leadership of the Department of Defense. Fortunately, even after withdrawing my complaint, the President of the CPPM understood that the reasons for my complaint remained valid and deserved a thorough investigation.
Today the CPPM released its report. I am grateful to Him for preparing and making these results public. Unsurprisingly, the CPPM concluded that "investigators had not conducted a thorough and rigorous investigation" and that it had been "compromised by tunnel vision, signs of bias, insufficient supervision and a failure to respect the fundamental principles of the investigation." The CPPM also concluded that "these gaps are not mere administrative errors; they represent significant shortcomings that undermine public confidence in the military police." Surprisingly, at the main conclusion regarding tunnel vision and lack of objectivity in the investigation, the Grand Provocateur responded: "No identifiable measure required."
This report constitutes an overwhelming condemnation of the professional competence of the military police. He also casts the discredit on senior military officials who continue to let the SNF adopt these uncontrollable behaviors and practices. It reads as a tragedy of errors, with inadequate training of investigators, lack of effective supervision and control, lack of recording and transcription of witness statements, lack of hearing potential witnesses, and a clear bias. In other words, it seems very clear that a professional police force, with investigators trained in sensitive cases such as sexual assaults receiving appropriate managerial supervision, would have handled the plaintiff's case with greater care and attention.
According to media coverage, lawsuits and other reports from the CPPM, it is clear that the systemic weaknesses identified in my case continue to negatively impact many SNEFC investigations, including but not limited to allegations of sexual misconduct. The lack of accountability from senior FACF leaders and institutional responsibility, in the face of a seemingly endless series of revelations about the NISFC’s shortcomings, undermines public confidence, serving military and veterans. This situation places an excessive burden on the judicial system and leads to errors of justice. A true learning institution would accept responsibility for known and identified gaps and implement remedial measures without delay.
The CPPM also rightly notes that "Failing to correct these abnormalities at the stage of investigation also harms plaintiffs for sexual assault." This consideration is one of the main reasons for my complaint to the CPPM. I had, perhaps naively, hoped that my experience would at least lead to military police and institution reform. Unfortunately, the CPPM also notes that the Grand Provocateur’s responses to the report’s recommendations “were laconic and lacked clarity or details to demonstrate a real commitment to implementing them, raising concerns about the organization’s commitment to making change significant".
Victims of sexual misconduct, as well as those falsely accused, deserve better from this national institution and its senior leadership.
This entire experience, including the abrupt end of my military career by top FAC leadership, has been deeply traumatic. I will not elaborate on the consequences of their incompetence on my family, my health and my reputation. I will be forever grateful to my family and my many friends who have supported me throughout this ordeal. As I turn the page, the CPPM findings bring some public validation, personal relief and a welcome conclusion to this saga. »
