Lt.-Col. Martin Bernier pleads guilty to harassment, sex assault charges dropped

A former commander with the Canadian military saw charges of sexual assault dropped on Thursday after pleading guilty to harassing two of his junior officers.

Lieutenant-Colonel Martin Bernier, formerly of CFB Valcartier, acknowledged on Thursday morning that he violated the Department of National Defence's rules of conduct one night last October.

The two junior officers who filed charges against Bernier testified that he touched their buttocks and grabbed them by their waists at a party to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Royal 22nd Regiment.

The two women, whose names cannot be published due to a publication ban, told those present at the court martial through the events of Oct. 18, 2014.

They told the court that they had each attended the party in the company of their spouses, and that Bernier touched them inappropriately as they danced and socialized.

"I was often uncomfortable and had anxiety attacks. I did not want to be identified as a victim. Every time there was a course on sexual misconduct I felt like everyone was looking at me. There was the invisible weight on my shoulders," one of the victims said.

She said she went to see Bernier the next day, and he apologized.

"He told me he had thought back to the previous night and realized he was wrong to act that way and that he regretted what had happened," she said.

She said she initially accepted the apology, but later decided to follow up with an official complaint.

The other victim had similar testimony but added that people on the base told her they felt "they had asked for it" —meaning the unwanted gestures. She also said Bernier never apologized to her and that he never acknowledged that he had done anything to her until he was in court.

'No longer trusted to command'

Brigadier General Stéphane Lafaux, commander of the Second Canadian Division in which Bernier served, also testified on Thursday. He said Bernier was relieved from his position one week after the event.

Lafaux said given the information he had received, he "no longer trusted his capacity to command the unit." 

He said Bernier's responsibility was to train new recruits and teach them the ethics of the armed forces.

"Given the circumstances, he was no longer credible in this role," he said.

He said Bernier expressed regret for the events in question.

Lafaux said there is no greater punishment for a commander than to be relieved of one's functions.

Bernier was transferred to Ottawa, where he is now posted with the Strategic Joint Staff.