The Arbour Flop

Vincent J. Curtis

1 June 22

The Arbour Report flopped starting at the press conference, and Louise Arbour expected it.  Her skepticism of its ‘meaningful implementation’ was obvious.  Her recommendation of transferring jurisdiction of sexual misconduct cases to the civilian courts is already meeting resistance from the civilian side, and the business of transforming the culture of the CAF into a progressive’s paradise will fail.

Arbour criticized culture.  It’s insular, hierarchical (meant pejoratively), and resistant to externally imposed change.  Arbour recommended that RMC Kingston and RMC St-Jean be closed as degree granting institutions because these are major sources of renewal of this backward and refractory culture.  She would replace them with an expanded ROTP program.  CAF leadership at the senior and flag officer ranks should reflect the demographic composition of Canada, and the criteria of selection for promotion should be changed, with input from civilian outsiders.

Arbour acknowledged a vague awareness of the CAF reputation in the realm of warfighting, but for her analysis the CAF might be an old, exclusive club that refuses to admit women and Blacks.  Women who are admitted are exposed to sexualized hazing, and worse.  (Arbour missed the insight that many instances of sexual misconduct are, in fact, instances of bullying.  But if sex is involved, that’s conclusive.)

“Firmly entrenched in its historical way of life, the military has failed to keep pace with the values and expectations of a pluralistic Canadian society.” she admonished.  The CAF has a deeply deficient culture on sexual misconduct.

Madam Arbour lacked credibility.  She doesn’t grasp what unlimited liability means; she was never involved in a fire-fight in Afghanistan and had to listen for and obey orders instantly. She will never have on her conscience the lives lost she was responsible for.

The CAF isn’t a social club with behavioural problems.  It exists for a reason, and that reason isn’t to provide employment for politically preferred victim groups.  That reputation for operational excellence was paid for in blood.  One reason the CAF is insular is the cost of admission is so high.  And what exactly are those values and expectations of Canada’s pluralistic society?  Libertino-puritanism?  Transgender mania?  Being ashamed of Canada?  Questioning Canada’s legitimacy as a country?  Taking a knee?

Between the wars, the Canadian military let its institutional memory fade.  It didn’t keep up with military developments.  That neglect was paid for in blood in Normandy.  The army learned its lesson, and institutionalized lessons learned.  It kept up with developments in weapons, tactics, and operational concepts.  The CAF performed well in Afghanistan - because of its Canadian values, and the crown jewel of its achievement was victory in Op MEDUSA.

That’s why the CAF seems insular, because of its success and competence on the terms that matter. 

Closing RMC – centers of professional excellence - will only result in a loss of balance in command and technical competence.  Hopefully, there are enough ring-knockers around to keep this mistake from happening.

Arbour missed something if she wished to civilianize the attitudes and values of senior leadership, and that is to make greater use of reservists.  Cannot an accomplished reserve officer in his 40s or 50s be a Crse O?  Put ‘command of a reserve unit’ in the career path of future generals.  I observed in GITMO that most of the senior officers were reservists on full-time duty, from Rear-Adm Mark Buzby then-commanding detention operations on down.  The non-coms handling the detainees were regular USN.  Why can’t this work in Canada?

The number of sexual misconduct cases is 30 a year.  For this we’re going to destroy our military ethos and illicitly sneak in the irrelevant equity-over-merit agenda?

I despise bullying.  It should be dealt with harshly.  Bullies will cause disciplinary and morale problems in future, and if promoted, will ruin the organization they are in charge of.  I’ve seen it.  Go ahead and transfer sexual assault cases to civilian courts, but bulling disguised as sexual misconduct should be recognized and handled administratively.  Forget culture, it’s character.

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