Lawsuit alleges criticizing Ottawa's anti-U.S. rhetoric cost this defence director her job
Principal architect of Canada’s 2024 defence policy alleges sudden reversal from prior support for her public work to marginalization and “surplus” elimination
A senior former Department of National Defence policy director who helped shape Canada’s 2024 defence strategy is alleging she was effectively pushed out after publishing an opinion piece critical of anti-American rhetoric from Western leaders.
Raquel Garbers served as Director General of Strategic Defence Policy and helped lead work on Canada’s 2024 defence policy. She has since filed a wrongful dismissal lawsuit in Ontario Superior Court on June 11, alleging that after years of support for her public commentary and policy work, the DND reversed course following her article critical of the government last fall.
Garbers served nearly 28 years in the federal public service. Court documents say she led the development of the 2024 defence policy, Our North, Strong and Free and provided strategic advice at senior levels, including to deputy ministers and the defence minister. She had also written and spoken publicly on defence and geopolitical issues without prior objection from the department.
She says the change was immediate and unmistakable once controversy arose.
