Wallace Fowler, a former Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) member from Bible Hill, N.S., is rejecting a $150-million class-action settlement approved in Federal Court, calling the proposed individual payments of up to $35,000 inadequate.
Fowler, 51, was among the original plaintiffs in the 2016 lawsuit alleging systemic racism in the CAF. He claims the military failed to address racial discrimination and harassment, which he endured during his service from 1997 to 2004. He was discharged due to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which he attributes to racist mistreatment from fellow soldiers.
“You can’t treat me the way you treat me and then give me money and say, OK, you’re looked after,” said Fowler, who has launched his own legal action against the government. The attorney general has filed a statement of defense in response.
The settlement includes an official apology to affected members and acknowledges the harm caused by racial discrimination dating back to 1985. However, Fowler and Rubin Coward, a 68-year-old former air force sergeant, believe the agreement fails to provide meaningful justice. Coward, who also suffers from PTSD, criticized the military’s handling of racism, stating, “To be accosted, affronted, insulted, discriminated by people supposed to be colleagues and friends, it’s very disheartening.”
While accepting the payment, Coward remains disappointed by the continued presence of racism in the ranks. In contrast, Jean-Pierre Robillard, another plaintiff, is optimistic that the settlement’s systemic reforms will drive cultural change within the military.
Stewart McKelvey, the law firm behind the class action, clarified that payments are an acknowledgment of racism’s harm rather than compensation for lost earnings. The Department of National Defence insists reforms are underway, citing a 2021 cultural overhaul initiative.
Fowler, however, believes only a public inquiry can expose the full extent of the issue. “A public inquiry will, let’s say, undress the skeletons. It will bring people out and it will make people accountable for their actions,” he said, vowing to continue his fight for justice.
Source: Swifteradio.com
