In an interview with CBC's Peter Mansbridge airing Tuesday night on The National, Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Tom Lawson said sexual harassment in the military is a result of how people are "biologically wired."
Here's his full answer:
It would be a trite answer, but it's because we're biologically wired in a certain way and there will be those who believe it is a reasonable thing to press themselves and their desires on others. It's not the way it should be.
Much as we would very much like to be absolutely professional in everything we do, and I think by and large we are, there will be situations and have been situations where, largely, men will see themselves as able to press themselves onto our women members.
Gen. Lawson's comments drew criticism from politicians, sexual assault centres and others.
Military sexual misconduct due to 'biological wiring,' Gen. Tom Lawson says. Is he saying 'boys will be boys'? Deplorable excuse! #CDSFail
"Biological wiring" comes unpleasantly close to saying men can't help themselves. Agreed - utterly unacceptable. https://t.co/OcPB4TaOUa
UM NO!!! "Military sexual misconduct due to 'biological wiring,' Gen. Lawson says http://t.co/CuaLkrDiTN
Seriously? What century is he in?Military sexual misconduct due to 'biological wiring,' http://t.co/ZRuEcvUbix
*Robs a store.* "It wasn't me. It was biological wiring."
After an excerpt of the interview aired on CBC, Gen. Lawson issued an apology.
The statement read in part:
I apologize for my awkward characterization, in today's CBC interview, of the issue of sexual misconduct in the Canadian Armed Forces. Sexual misconduct in any form, in any situation is clearly unacceptable.
My reference to biological attraction being a factor in sexual misconduct was by no means intended to excuse anyone from responsibility for their actions.
In April, Marie Deschamps, a former Supreme Court justice, published her external review on sexual misconduct and harassment in the Canadian military.
