Canada defense leaders apologize for failure to curb sex assaults

FILE PHOTO: Canada's Minister of National Defence Anita Anand speaks during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada November 30, 2021. REUTERS/Blair Gable/File Photo

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada's defense minister and its top military officer on Monday offered a live televised apology for the government's failure to do enough to curb what they admitted was systemic sexual misconduct and discrimination in the nation's armed forces.

Newly appointed Defence Minister Anita Anand said far too many people in uniform had suffered sexual assault or discrimination based on sex, gender identity or sexual orientation.