Military investigates allegation of sexual misconduct against pilot Snowbirds

The Royal Canadian Air Force is investigating an allegation of sexual misconduct against a Snowbirds pilot and the aerobatics team will conduct an aircraft shortage for now.

The commanders of 1 and 2 Canadian Air Divisions issued a statement on Saturday saying the allegations were made against a member of 431 Squadron, which is stationed in Moose Jaw, Sask., and that the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service is investigating.

Department of National Defense spokeswoman Jessica Lamirande said the member is a pilot on the aerial acrobatics team, but she noted no charges have been filed.

Lamirande said the department is not disclosing when and where the alleged misconduct occurred.

The department’s press release states that the person affected by the alleged misconduct is also a member of the army.

It said the Snowbirds will perform aerial displays as a team of eight aircraft instead of nine for the foreseeable future.

“The pilots do some training exercises before the show year starts,” Lamirande said of why the team can’t just fly another pilot.

“To enroll someone, we would need to have a reserve (CT-114) Tutor pilot who is fully trained and has undergone the same drills as the others. At the moment we don’t have someone who is trained and ready to go.”

The DND said the member facing charges has been transferred to non-operational duties at 15 Wing Moose Jaw. It noted that the measure “implies no outcomes and is intended to enable robust investigation.”

It further said that the affected person and affected CAF members are receiving care and support.

“The RCAF takes all allegations of this nature seriously and is cooperating fully with investigators,” the release said.

The Snowbirds team will perform this weekend in Dieppe-Moncton, NB.

In a review of sexual misconduct in the army Ordered by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and released last year, retired Supreme Court Justice Louise Arbor called for the Canadian Forces to be permanently relieved of their jurisdiction over the investigation and prosecution of sexual assault and other related crimes.

Lamirande said the army cannot disclose reasons why investigations, including those involving the Snowbirds pilot, may or may not be referred to civilian law enforcement “to prioritize a victim-centered approach and preserve the integrity of an ongoing investigation.”

“There are several reasons why a case cannot be referred, such as allegations made outside the country, a victim’s unwillingness to participate in a police investigation, or preference for an investigation conducted by the police. armypolice,” she said.

Some county and municipal police forces have complained about the need for more funding and other resources to incorporate the military’s business into their own systems.

Defense Minister Anita Anand said last month that a federal-provincial-territorial committee has been set up to facilitate talks between secretaries of state on the transfer of sex crimes cases.

The army said in May that it has referred 93 cases of criminal sex offenses to civilian police since December 2021, with 64 of the cases under investigation.