# 2020-086 Harassment

Case summary

F&R Date: 2021-08-20

The grievor challenged the findings of a harassment investigation. As redress, the grievor requested that the harassment complaint be re-opened and fully investigated by a new investigator.

There was no Initial Authority decision.

The Committee found that the investigator acted in accordance with existing Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) policy in defining the scope of the investigation. The Committee also found that some allegations did not meet all of the criteria necessary to constitute harassment. While other specific allegations might constitute harassment, the investigator's failure to interview key witnesses left the Committee without the level of detail necessary to understand the exact nature of the alleged improper conduct and make definitive findings.

The Committee concluded that one allegation did constitute harassment by the respondent and that the relevant CAF records should be noted to reflect this.

Given the passage of time and its effects on the memories of witnesses, and considering that the respondent has since released from the CAF, the Committee found that no valid departmental purpose would be served by re-investigating the grievor's harassment complaint at this time. The Committee recommended that the Final Authority (FA) not order a new harassment investigation. The Committee further recommended that the FA acknowledge that one allegation was founded and that the relevant CAF records be amended to reflect this finding. 

FA decision summary

The Director Canadian Forces grievance Authority, acting as FA, agreed with the Committee's findings and recommendation not to afford redress.