Headline: “Canada’s Top Military Officer Asserts Support for Women in Combat Roles”
Author: Michael Tutton, The Canadian Press
Published on: November 23, 2024
Canada’s Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Jennie Carignan, recently spoke out in support of women serving in combat roles. Carignan’s remarks came during the Halifax International Security Forum and were in direct response to controversial comments made by U.S. Republican Senator James Risch.
Risch, a supporter of Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, had previously expressed reservations about women’s presence in combat units. Speaking to around 300 delegates at the Forum, he suggested that the decision should ultimately be left to the military.
Gen. Carignan, a veteran combat officer with 39 years of service, responded by expressing disbelief that the contributions of women to the military were still being questioned in 2024. She stated that she did not want the delegates to leave the forum with the impression that women were a ‘distraction’ in matters of defence and national security. Her comments were met with a standing ovation.
Hegseth, a former military officer and regular Fox News commentator, has consistently maintained that men and women should not serve together in combat units. He argues that the inclusion of women has not improved combat effectiveness and has only complicated matters. He does, however, believe in a place for women in the military, excluding special operations and artillery, infantry, and armoured units.
Gen. Carignan’s stand against these views represents an important moment for gender equality in the military. As the first female Chief of Defence Staff in Canada’s history, she continues to champion the cause of women in combat roles.
Copyright 2024 The Canadian Press
