Wearing Canadian Forces uniform in civil court

When Major-General Dany Fortin wore his uniform (specifically, his 3A order of dress) to a civil court of criminal jurisdiction, where he was answering a charge of alleged sexual assault, it sparked a bit of controversy.  Or, at the very least, there were some efforts to characterize this as a controversial act.

And, as has become typical of matters that touch upon allegations of sexual misconduct in the Canadian Forces, some scrutiny by national news media has led to a degree of governmental hand-wringing and reassurances that 'the military will review its policy'.

Often, when such controversies arise - or are generated - it can lead to decision-making and policy-making that is not entirely transparent, clearly articulated, reasonable, or justified.  It often leads to a panicked attempt to be 'seen to be doing something'.

In this linked article, "Wearing Canadian Forces Uniform in Civil Court", I offer some observations on both the specific issue of whether a CF member should be permitted to wear his or her uniform (or, alternatively, prohibited from wearing it) as well as the nature of policy-making in such circumstances.