Overview
- Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jennie Carignan delivered the apology in Ottawa to current and former CAF members and their families affected by racial discrimination and harassment.
- Carignan pledged tangible reforms to remove systemic barriers, warning that an apology without real action would be hollow and that backlash against this work will not be tolerated.
- The settlement covers service from 1985 through January 2025 and provides individual payments ranging from $5,000 to $35,000, with total compensation capped at up to $150 million.
- National Defence planned the ceremony over more than a year using a trauma-informed approach, with media barred from the room to reduce the risk of re-traumatizing participants.
- The event, initially slated for March 2025, was postponed due to court delays and the prorogation of Parliament, and the CAF still faces separate lawsuits over sexual misconduct and LGBTQ+ discrimination.