Ottawa says military should transfer sexual offence cases, but most were retained

Military police kept most sexual offence cases in the Canadian Armed Forces over the past five years, even though the federal government said those matters should be moved to civilian authorities while a permanent legal change was being prepared. According to new data cited in the report, military police retained 595 of 879 cases since 2021, while only 284 were referred to civilian police. Officials said the interim approach was meant to be victimcentred and to account for public safety, the stage of each case, and the preferences of complainants. The issue stems from recommendations made by former Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour, who concluded that the military justice system had serious problems handling sexual offence cases. Parliament has now passed Bill C11, which removes the military’s jurisdiction over these offences, with the law set to take effect in midAugust and a review planned in three years.