Why in Canada a man assaulting a statue gets a harsher punishment than a man assaulting a co-worker?

Crime one

One hot night, a drunk 22 year-old Torontonian visiting Ottawa decides to give some hip thrusts.

​The victim

​A statue commemorating Canada`s war dead.

​Witness reaction

​Calling the police and recording the scene as evidence.

​intervention

​The police arrested the young man on site and brought him to the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre where he spent the night.

​The charges

​Criminal mischief. This could lead to 10 years in jail and, in his case, deportation.

​The Verdict

​The young man pleads guilty to “simple mischief”: a lesser offence that saves him from potential deportation and up to 10 years in prison for dry humping a statue.

​The punishment

The man…
  • apologies in front of the Judge
  • 40 hours of community service
  • alcohol counselling
  • Almost two nights in jail
  • $ 1,300 in fines
  • Publicly shamed on social medias

Crime two

One work day, CBC radio host Jian Ghomeshi grabs a female by her waist from behind while she leaned over a desk to get some papers and proceed to repeatedly thrust his pelvis against her buttocks.

The victim

​A younger co-worker in a junior position.

​Witness reaction

​A co-worker sees the incident, but nothing is done.

​Intervention

​According to the victim, the union do nothing.
The executive producer tells the victim that Ghomeshi is the way he is that she had to figure out how to cope with that.

​The charges

​Many counts of sexual assault, including this one.

​The Verdict

The charge of sexual assault – which he pleads not guilty to – is withdrawn.
According to the federal government, CBC didn’t break any labour after failing to address Ghomeshi’s behaviour

​The punishment

The man…
  • Stood before a judge and reads an apology to Kathryn Borel for his “sexually inappropriate behaviour” in the workplace.
  • Signs a peace bond,
  • Get fired from CBC
  • $100,000 in bail
  • Get publicly shamed on social medias

DID YOU KNOW?

  • ​​​​​Screenings and peer support are available for Operational Stress Injuries, but not for Military Sexual Trauma?
  • ​Victims of Military Sexual Trauma often get an imposed medical release?
  • JPSU staff is not trained for Military Sexual Trauma?
  • The alleged victim is usually the one who must relocate after reporting a sexual misconduct?
  • Most victims are between 17 and 19 years old and the perpetrators are usually one to two ranks above the victim? (According to an American Research since no Canadian Data exist at this time).​
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