I was incensed to learn that in 2015, Mark Popov was removed from his position shortly after attempting to address sexual misconduct on the part of the RMC cadets under his command. He should have been celebrated and promoted for his efforts to curtail such egregious behaviour, but instead he was subjected to a highly toxic campaign to derail his career. Understandably, this mistreatment eventually led him to be diagnosed with PTSD and forced him to leave the military after 27 years of service. The fact that this happened makes me absolutely burn with indignation. 

General Wayne Eyre, current chief of defence staff, has acknowledged that Mark Popov wasn’t treated fairly, but has stopped short of issuing an unequivocal apology. This, in my view, is unacceptable. Mark Popov deserves better, and we Canadians deserve better from our military leaders. We Canadians need our armed forces to behave like the protectors they are supposed to be, and true protectors like Mark Popov deserve protection from toxicity. The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) not only owes Popov an unreserved apology, it owes him a debt of gratitude for his courage in trying to change its culture to one of integrity and protection.

The CAF can begin paying this debt by covering, at minimum, the costs incurred of any therapeutic services Popov may have used while attempting to heal from having had to work in such a toxic environment.

It also owes him, and Canadians, meaningful change within its ranks, starting with its leadership. Hint: if you were to offer him a position designed to improve culture--at a rank of colonel or higher--it would certainly go a long way to showing Canadians the CAF is earnest about reform.

Finally, in addition to the above, I would like to see CAF enact the following, drawn from Popov's own call to action:

1. Excise toxic officers from Lieutenant-Colonel to General who do untold harm by maintaining toxic and abusive work environments.

2. Address, by removing, charging or taking career action against those in the ranks who cover up sexual misconduct and other offences, who perpetuate the "old boys' club" mentality and let it go unaddressed. 

3. Stop punishing those who seek to do right and rewarding those who cover things up. Institute and maintain a culture of "institutional honesty". In other words, bring the CAF's leadership into alignment with the values it purports to hold.

Thank you.