The Canadian Armed Forces has made immediate changes to its military grievance and harassment process to implement recommendations of the Independent External Comprehensive Review of sexual misconduct within the forces.

Effective immediately, Canadian Armed Forces members who have experienced sexual harassment, sexual misconduct or any other form of discrimination based on sex or gender while performing their duties can bring their complaint directly to the Human Rights Commission.

A CAF member who intends to file a complaint of sexual harassment or discrimination can file through the existing grievance and harassment process or file directly through the Human Rights Commission. Those who choose the Human Rights route will no longer have to exhaust the internal grievance and harassment process first.

The Independent External Comprehensive Review, led by former Supreme Court Justice Louise Arbour was launched in April of 2021 to review policies, procedures, programs, practices and culture within DND and the Canadian Armed Forces in response to harassment and sexual misconduct complaints.