Dateline: Ottawa

Hon. Marie Deschamps

The CBC's Murray Brewster writes here on the slow progress the Canadian Armed Forces are making towards implementing recommendations by former Supreme Court Justice Marie Deschamps. Excerpt:

One of Deschamps' other recommendations — still considered a work in progress — is to make the sexual misconduct response centre fully independent and able to track and evaluate the military's efforts.

It's something defence department officials have resisted, but Emma Phillips, a Toronto lawyer who acted as counsel to the Deschamps commission, said Tuesday's report shows DND is backtracking and the centre will now be independent.

"It's unfortunate that it's taken four years for that model to be implemented, but at the same time I'm glad that it's finally happening," said Phillips.