A House of Commons committee heard startling testimony about rape and retribution from different witnesses today as it continued its examination of sexual misconduct in the military.
Aviator Emily Tulloch, an air force technician, told MPs her military career has been one horrifying event after another.
"I am here today to tell you that I was raped only one month into my basic training at St. Jean (Que.). One month. I was also sexually assaulted during my training at Borden (Ont.). And I have been groped and kissed unwillingly at group parties and mess events. These degrading behaviours are more common than you think."
The status of women committee heard both from complainants and from former senior military officer Bernie Boland — who alleges he stood up against the harassment of a female colleague and faced a deliberate, Department of National Defense-backed smear campaign as a result.
In a formal complaint filed last January, Boland wrote to Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan and singled out the department's deputy minister for allowing the submission to go to the human rights commission.
He said his colleague's complaint was "summarily dismissed" by the department, despite Sajjan's public claim that all allegations will be thoroughly investigated, no matter the rank or position of the individuals involved.
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