Status of Women committee  In my role, as I am delegated overall for the activities and programs and services of human resources on the civilian side of the Department of National Defence. I have the authority to look at issues as they come in, and we treat all the issues without regard for rank and level in providing advice and determining whether or not harassment has taken place.

Status of Women committee  Madam Chair, I'll try to build on General Whelan's comments. I think throughout the public service and where we find ourselves in 2021, there's a real opportunity to look at how labour relations are constructed. I think it's still very much an industrial relations era model, so it's a bit adversarial.

Status of Women committee  Madam Chair, I'm not an expert with PCO machinery and how it's worked. I've had a relationship with PCO and I've worked with senior personnel, but I would refrain from providing any expert comments on that.

Status of Women committee  I'm sorry, Madam Chair. I had technical difficulties with the translation. I couldn't hear. I was trying to slip back and forth. Can the question be repeated, please?

Status of Women committee  Thank you. I'll go very quickly. I think that in the main that's a natural consequence, that fear, especially in large organizations. I think there's an opportunity to rethink how we do labour relations and provide that trust and support so that privacy, confidentiality and procedural fairness are entrusted within the system.

Status of Women committee  Thank you, Madam Chair. That's not something I was personally involved with, so I would not have anything to offer.

Status of Women committee  Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm optimistic and I'm hopeful that we are at an inflection point in time in which the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces can make significant changes.

Status of Women committee  Madam Chair, I think a really important point has been raised by General Whelan, which is that we have work to do to build trust. While we have myriad programs already in place across the public service, and national defence public service employees are part of that, I think the tone needs to be set at the top.

Status of Women committee  Thank you. Good evening, Madam Chair and committee members. Thank you for the invitation to participate in this discussion in my capacity as the assistant deputy minister of civilian human resources for the Department of National Defence. I have been a member of the public service for over 29 years, having held a number of positions in a variety of departments.