SMRC Offers New and Expanded Services and Programs to Support Survivors

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The SMRC currently provides support to serving CAF members affected by sexual misconduct. As announced today, the SMRC is expanding its support services to include former CAF members, CAF Veterans, and DND public service employees. The Response and Support Coordination Program will also be expanding to five additional regions across the country, with the hiring of more support coordinators to provide assigned and dedicated on-going care and assistance to clients. The SMRC will also continue to provide expert advice, guidance, and recommendations to the DND and CAF on all matters related to sexual misconduct

Budget 2021 provided DND and Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) with $236.2 million over five years, starting in 2021-22, and $33.5 million per year ongoing (including $158.5 million over five years and $29.9 million per year ongoing funded from existing resources) to support work to eliminate sexual misconduct and gender-based violence in the military and to support survivors. With those investments, the SMRC has begun working on five new initiatives:

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·​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​A joint initiative with VAC to co-develop an online and face-to-face peer support program with people with lived experience to better support those affected by Military Sexual Trauma.

·​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​A mobile application which will allow those affected by sexual misconduct to access SMRC support services and resources in an alternate format.

·​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​An expansion of the current transfer payment program that funds nine civilian sexual assault centres to a program that will provide more flexible access to funding for a range of community-based organizations that provide support services to those affected by sexual misconduct. Through this program, the SMRC hopes to fund innovative programs to reach remote and underserved members of the CAF community.

·​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Research on how to better prevent sexual misconduct in the military and develop response frameworks, guidelines, and training curriculum to support decision-making by leaders within DND/CAF.

·​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​A program to provide access to independent legal advice for victims of sexual misconduct within the military.

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On November 15, the SMRC also launched the Restorative Engagement program, as part of the CAF-DND Sexual Misconduct Class Action Final Settlement Agreement. This program creates opportunities where class members are supported to share their experiences, knowledge and understanding of sexual misconduct and its causes and impacts; for Defence representatives to acknowledge, understand and learn from these experiences and to take individual and collective responsibility for its causes and impacts; and for these experiences and learnings to contribute to broader culture change efforts. This program is available to claimants who experienced sexual assault, sexual harassment, and discrimination based on sex, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation in a military environment who expressed interest in this program when they submitted their claim.

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To continue providing support services, and deliver on the expansions and new initiatives, the SMRC team has tripled its staff since spring 2021 and will continue growing in the new year.

The SMRC’s efforts to enhance supports to persons affected by sexual misconduct are a critical component of Pathways to Progress, DND/CAF’s action plan to address conduct and culture. Pathways to Progress identifies supports to survivors as a key line of effort in the remediation of harms and achieving culture change. Through this line of effort, DND/CAF has committed to building comprehensive support structures through dialogue with survivors, and increasing scope and access to resources.

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To learn more about the broad range of actions DND/CAF is taking to address all forms of systemic misconduct and support those who have been harmed by this unacceptable behaviour, visit the recently updated Conduct and Culture Change ProgressTracker web page. This web tracker will be updated regularly to reflect progress on programs and implementation.

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Quote

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“Support to those who have been affected by sexual misconduct is our paramount focus. We are continuing to develop programs and improve processes to ensure that those who defend Canadians and Canadian values at home and abroad are also protected. The expansion of these essential SMRC teams and services will help to ensure that more of our current and former CAF members and Veterans, and DND public servants get the help and support they need and deserve when and how they need it.”

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The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence

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“Expanding the Sexual Misconduct Response Centre’s services will provide access to expert guidance and support for Veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces that need it. This is a vitally important step, and we’ll continue working with survivors to make sure everyone who has been affected by sexual misconduct is recognized and receives the supports they need.”

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Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence

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“I am pleased that we are now in a position to offer more support services to those affected by sexual misconduct. Our long-held vision of offering a seamless continuum of care continues to be strengthened. With the expansion to regions and the new support services that we will be offering, such as peer support and access to independent legal advice, those affected by sexual misconduct will have a range of services to help them heal from the harms they have suffered.”

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Dr. Denise Preston, Executive Director, Sexual Misconduct Response Centre, Department of National Defence

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Quick Facts

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·​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​The SMRC was established in 2015 in response to recommendations in the External Review into Sexual Misconduct and Harassment in the CAF (the Deschamps Report). The SMRC provides expert advice, guidance and recommendations to the Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces on all matters related to sexual misconduct. The Centre operates outside of and independently from the CAF chain of command.

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·​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​The SMRC provides support and information on options so callers can make well-informed choices to meet their needs. SMRC support team staff can, upon a caller’s request, facilitate referrals to departmental and Government of Canada services and to provincial, territorial and community-based medical, sexual assault, and other support providers. SMRC support is confidential and callers can choose to remain anonymous.

·​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​The SMRC provides expert guidance and recommendations to DND and the CAF to help shape policies and programs addressing sexual misconduct. The Centre also monitors the CAF’s progress in addressing sexual misconduct.

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·​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Budget 2021 provided DND and VAC with $236.2 million over five years, starting in 2021-22, and $33.5 million per year ongoing (including $158.5 million over five years and $29.9 million per year ongoing funded from existing resources) to support work to eliminate sexual misconduct and gender-based violence in the military and to support survivors.

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