Independent External Comprehensive Review Timeline
Learn about the milestones, documents, and announcements of progress regarding the Independent External Comprehensive Review (IECR).
Timeline of milestones
Below is a list of the important milestones for the IECR:
2026
- April 28: In response to IECR Recommendation 4, the CAF has updated DAOD 5019-1, Personal Relationships. The updates address power imbalance, privacy, and oversight within personal relationships within the CAF. The changes provide additional amplification and clarity on how personal relationships are managed within the CAF context, and place integrity and fairness as core values of the policy. This policy change was communicated to the Defence Team via CANFORGEN and a Maple Leaf article.
2025
- November 5: The External Monitor releases her sixth and final status report, which provides her final observations and notes on the progress of the implementation of all 48 IECR recommendations. In her final report, Madame Therrien reported that “DND/CAF has made significant inroads since the fall of 2022. She further reports that “[t]he majority of the IECR recommendations have substantively been actioned.” In a statement about the report, the Minister of National Defence also provided an update on departmental progress on a number of the recommendations.
- July 8: The External Monitor releases her fifth status report, which provides observations and progress on the implementation of all 48 IECR recommendations. In a statement about the report, the Minister of National Defence also provided an update on a number of IECR recommendations.
- March 1: In response to Recommendation #3, the CAF adopted the Canada Labour Code definition of harassment. This aligned the CAF Harassment program with the public service employee Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention Program, creating one unified approach for dealing with harassment and violence in the workplace applicable to both DND public service employees and CAF members.
2024
- November 20: The External Monitor releases her fourth status report, which provides observations and progress on the implementation of all 48 IECR recommendations. In a statement about the report, the Minister of National Defence also provided an update on a number of IECR recommendations and announced the release of the Conduct and Culture Data Centre, an interactive online tool offering data on key issues, such as personnel demographics, workplace experiences, conduct, and leadership.
- July 19: In response to IECR Recommendation 34, the CAF announces further improvements to the promotion process. All candidates for promotion to the ranks of Captain (Navy)/Colonel now undergo evidence-based assessments of character as part of the promotion-selection process. This policy change was communicated to the Defence Team via CANFORGENs.
- CANFORGEN 104/24 - EXPANDED USE OF EVIDENCE-BASED ASSESSMENTS OF CHARACTER (Link only accessible on the National Defence network.)
- July 15: In response to IECR Recommendation 31, the CAF announces further improvements to the promotion process. A review of past historic misconduct will now be conducted for each candidate considered for promotion to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel/Commander or above, or to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer/Chief Petty Officer 1st Class.This policy change was communicated to the Defence Team via Canadian Forces General Messaging (CANFORGENs).
- CANFORGEN 101/24 - PAST CONDUCT DEFICIENCY AND SELECTION BOARDS FOR PROMOTION (Link only accessible on the National Defence network.)
- June 27: The Minister of National Defence announces updates on culture change in response to IECR recommendations 1, 2, and 11. This includes the release of the Comprehensive Implementation Plan, interim policy guidance to abolish the definition of sexual misconduct, and the repeal of Duty to Report.
- June 12: The Canadian Military Colleges Review Board (CMCRB) launches an online consultation portal to receive input from Canadians regarding Canada’s two military colleges and make recommendations pertaining to Recommendation 28 and Recommendation 29 of the IECR.
- May 16: The External Monitor releases her third status report, which provides observations and progress on the implementation of all 48 IECR recommendations.
- March 21: The Minister of National Defence introduces legislation to amend the National Defence Act that proposed a suite of targeted changes to modernize the military justice system. To address IECR recommendation 5, the proposed legislation definitively removes the CAF jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute Criminal Code sexual offences committed in Canada, providing exclusive jurisdiction to civilian authorities to investigate and prosecute such offences.
2023
- December 13: The Minister of Defence Bill Blair announces that DND/CAF will implement recommendations 1 and 2, which require the revision of terminology, including the abolition of the definition of “sexual misconduct” from DAOD 9005-1 and other policies, and ensuring that sexual assault be included as a standalone item in the definitions section of relevant CAF policies.
- December 6: The Minister of National Defence announces the members and mandate of the Military Colleges Review Board.
- November 20: The External Monitor releases her second status report, which provides observations and progress on the implementation of all 48 IECR recommendations.
- October 5: In response to IECR recommendation 45, the Minister of National Defence announces the launch of an online Conduct and Culture Research and Policy Database. The database makes research and policies related to sexual harassment and misconduct, gender, sexual orientation, race, diversity and inclusion, and culture change more readily accessible to the public, as well as to members of the Department of National Defence (DND) and Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).
- August 30: The process to repeal Duty to Report legislation is initiated in response to IECR recommendation 11. This confirms a commitment to put affected persons first, as the Duty to Report created unintended negative consequences for survivors by taking away their agency and control in the reporting process.
- August 15: The Minister of National Defence announces changes to the military grievance and harassment process, implementing IECR recommendations 7 and 9. CAF members who have experienced sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, or any other form of discrimination based on sex/gender while performing their duties can now choose to direct their complaint to the Canadian Human Rights Commission without first exhausting the internal military grievance and harassment processes.
- May 17: The External Monitor releases her first status report, which provides an overview of initiatives related to three themes: prevention; support to affected persons; and input and oversight.
- May 11: In response to IECR recommendations 12 and 14, DND changes the name of the Sexual Misconduct Response Centre (SMRC) to the Sexual Misconduct Support and Resource Centre (SMSRC) and announces the launch of an Independent Legal Assistance (ILA) Program to facilitate access to legal services for individuals who have experienced military sexual misconduct.
2022
- December 13: The Minister of National Defence tables a report in Parliament indicating that she has directed DND/CAF to move forward on the IECR recommendations The report outlines the work undertaken to implement the immediately accepted 17 recommendations and the steps that will be undertaken to address the remaining 31 recommendations, as well as ongoing and forthcoming DND/CAF culture change initiatives.
- Minister of National Defence's Report to Parliament on Culture Change Reforms in response to former Supreme Court Justice Arbour's recommendations
- News release: Minister Anand updates Parliament on reforms to address sexual harassment and misconduct in the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Force
- Backgrounder: Update on Madame Arbour’s Independent External Comprehensive Review Final Report and Culture Change Reforms in the Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces to Address Sexual Harassment and Misconduct
- October 24: As per recommendation #48 of the IECR, the Minister of National Defence appoints Madame Jocelyne Therrien as External Monitor to oversee DND/CAF efforts to implement the IECR recommendations..
- May 30: The Minister of National Defence welcomes all 48 recommendations in the IECR and announces that work to implement 17 of the recommendations will begin immediately and that she has instructed DND/CAF to provide an assessment and path forward for the remaining recommendations.
- Final report of the Independent External Comprehensive Review
- News release: Government releases final Independent External Comprehensive Review of the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces and outlines next steps to address and eradicate sexual harassment and misconduct
- Backgrounder: Independent External Comprehensive Review of the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces – Final Report and Next Steps
- May 20: Madame Arbour delivers the final report of the IECR to the Minister of National Defence. The report provides 48 recommendations across a range of areas that seek to address issues of sexual harassment and misconduct in the DND/CAF.
2021
- November 4: The Minister of National Defence accepts interim recommendations provided by Madame Arbour to refer the investigation and prosecution of Criminal Code sexual offences from the military justice system to the civilian justice system. Since then, an intensive effort across federal, provincial, and territorial partners to refer the investigation and prosecution of these cases to civilian authorities has been underway.
- May 20: The Minister of National Defence announces that former Supreme Court Justice, Madame Louise Arbour, will conduct an Independent External Comprehensive Review (IECR) of policies, procedures, programs, practices, and culture within the Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).