Abstract
The increased attention to diversity and inclusion within Canadian defence, particularly in light of the 2017 Defence Policy Strong, Secure, Engaged, may appear like a recent development. However, this chapter argues that critical junctures and social movements since the 1960s have resulted in greater diversity and inclusivity in the Canadian defence realm. In doing so, we identify limitations to the current policy framework, and argue that “seminal” works on defence policy in Canada—although foundational to our understanding—must engage with critical and feminist perspectives, and their histories.
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Notes
- 1.
For the purposes of this chapter, we use LGBTQ2S as per the Government of Canada. LGBT is used in reference to the LGBT Purge, in which LGBT was the agreed upon acronym for the class action lawsuit. Further variations are based on honouring the original acronym/focus used in academic articles that are cited.
- 2.
DND has recognised the need for a department-wide initiative in response to the historical exclusion of LGBTQ2S employees and personnel.
- 3.
As will be discussed below, initiatives such as Positive Space seek to increase competencies and allyship across DND for the LGBTQ2S community.
- 4.
Which refers to “gender blindness” or ignoring the implications of gender in the Canadian Armed Forces under the purview that “a soldier is a soldier.”
- 5.
The inclusion of a gendered lens into policymaking, operational planning, and missions.
- 6.
For example, in Afghanistan, where Canada’s intervention was defended in part by the rationale of protecting women’s rights.
- 7.
Likely longer.
- 8.
The thirty-five-women quota was the minimum number of women required to build lavatory facilities, drawing parallels to the “cost effectiveness” argument.
- 9.
Relevant to this discussion are Sections 7-11, which highlight the limiting of employment opportunities (CHRA 1985).
- 10.
See CF Mil Pers Instr 01/11, Management of Transsexuals, issued 2011/02/08. Accessed through https://www.scribd.com/document/354809378/Canadian-Forces-policy-on-transgender-service-members
- 11.
Named after Elizabeth “Elsie” Muriel Gregory MacGill, commissioner of the Royal Commission on the Status of Women in Canada, who was awarded the Order of Canada in 1971. See Canada 2018b.
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Shoemaker, M., von Hlatky, S. (2020). A Feminist Account of Canadian Defence Policy. In: Tremblay, M., Everitt, J. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Gender, Sexuality, and Canadian Politics. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-49240-3_21
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