Canada will pay $1 bn settlement for claims of sexual misconduct in armyJuly 19, 2019 - 16:19 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Canadian government has agreed to pay a nearly $1 billion settlement to members of the Armed Forces and Department of National Defense who allege widespread sexual misconduct, CNN reports. The settlement does not admit liability, according to a statement, but it does reserve a total of $900 million for both members of the class action lawsuits and current or former employees "who experienced sexual harassment, sexual assault or discrimination based on sex, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation." Their individual payments will range between $5,000 and $55,000 depending on the type of treatment they experienced, with exceptional cases eligible for $155,000, according to the statement. That amount will also be affected by how many people file claims. "We're a government that takes sexual misconduct extremely seriously," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters, according the CNN news partner CBC. "No one should feel unsafe in their place of work, in their communities." Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan said the Forces "will continue to learn from these survivors as we take steps to achieve lasting and positive change," according to CBC. A hearing to approve the agreement is scheduled for September. Steps have been made within the forces to combat harassment with initiatives like Operation Honor and the launch of a sexual misconduct response center to take in complaints and carry out investigations, the CBC said. However, prior to the settlement, government lawyers tried to halt the class action suit, telling a court that the government does not "owe a private law duty of care to individual members within the CAF to provide a safe and harassment-free work environment, or to create policies to prevent sexual harassment or sexual assault," according to CBC. The federal government moved to settle soon after Trudeau said that language was "of concern." Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |