Stopping the clock

On May 15, 2017 the Parliamentary precinct newspaper Hill Times published a response to Major General Blaise Cathcart's earlier end of tour of duty interview published in the Lawyers' Daily. The article written by Joshua Juneau, one of my associates, is a tad uncomplimentary of the Judge Advocate General's legacy after seven years in that position. The article focuses specifically on an issue of significant importance to the modernization of the Canadian military justice system and, of more value, the integrity of the legislative process.

The article notes that Bill C-15 - Strengthening Military Justice in the Defence of Canada (Statutes of Canada, 2013, c. 24), which was drafted by the Office of the JAG, was given Royal Assent on June 19, 2013 and was enacted into law after two years of parliamentary debates. The enactment introduced a number of significant amendments to modernize the military justice system, including the composition of the court martial panel, victims impact statements, the introduction of additional sentencing options, the modification of the limitation period applicable to summary trials etc.

Yet, four years later, only 60 of the 134 amendments to the National Defence Act have come into force.

This gives new meaning to the French expression: "Avancez en arrière".