Defence chief Gen. Wayne Eyre to retire this summer

Canada’s top military officer will continue to serve in his role until a successor is appointed and following a transition period.

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Published Jan 12, 2024 • Last updated 23 minutes ago • 3 minute read

Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre has been in the position since 2021. Photo by Lars Hagberg /THE CANADIAN PRESS

Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre will retire this summer, the prime minister’s office announced Friday.

Eyre has been chief since 2021 and in command of the military during one of its most tumultuous times, which has included widespread allegations of sexual assault and misconduct among the senior ranks.

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Eyre was named acting defence chief in February 2021 after it was revealed that military police were looking into misconduct allegations against then chief Adm. Art McDonald.

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The Liberal government named Eyre as the full-time chief on Nov. 25 of that year, even though no charges were ever laid against McDonald.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office noted in a statement Friday that, as chief of the defence staff, Eyre helped stabilize the Canadian Forces “during a period of turmoil and led the institution in responding to the many security crises and challenges facing our country and the world.”

Trudeau thanked Eyre for his many years of service to Canadians and congratulated him on his upcoming retirement. “His contributions to upholding the highest standards of professionalism within our Armed Forces and his leadership in disaster relief operations and critical missions, both here at home and abroad, have been invaluable,” Trudeau said.

Eyre has served in the Canadian Forces for 40 years.

But Eyre, himself, has had a controversial tenure.

In the fall of 2021, Eyre angered Canadian Forces personnel when he blamed the military’s sexual misconduct crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic for an exodus of personnel. “We need our mid-level leaders to dig deep and do this for the institution, to put service before self, not to retreat into retirement, but to advance forward and face the challenges head-on,” Eyre stated then.

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The general’s comments generated an immediate and largely negative response on social media.

Military personnel said that Eyre was out of touch and that the exodus of personnel had started long before the pandemic or the sexual misconduct crisis. Poor leadership and concerns about quality of life were among common issues cited by those who had left.

Others criticized Eyre for admonishing soldiers who had committed a large part of their lives to serving in the military, noting they had the right to decide when they should leave.

Eyre later acknowledged that his comments created anger among military personnel.

Eyre also faced criticism for promoting a number of senior officers who would later be engulfed in allegations of sexual assault or misconduct.

He talked about the need for culture change to stem the number of sexual assaults, but during his tenure the number of reported incidents of sexual misconduct and assaults actually increased.

Last year Trudeau, Eyre and other senior government and military officials faced a lawsuit from Maj. Gen. Dany Fortin for their alleged roles in Fortin’s removal from command and a military police investigation into allegations of sexual assault.

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Fortin was ultimately acquitted of the charge. He settled his lawsuit out of court last year.

Chief of the Defence Staff Wayne Eyre will serve in the position until a successor is appointed and following a transition period. Photo by Adrian Wyld /The Canadian Press

In September, Eyre faced criticism from veterans when he twice joined MPs in a standing ovation in the House of Commons for a member of the Nazi’s Waffen SS. Some veterans demanded an apology from the top soldier for his actions, but he refused.

Trudeau’s office noted in Friday’s statement that a selection process would be initiated to appoint the next chief of the defence staff. Eyre will continue to serve in his role until the appointment of his successor and the completion of a deliberate transition period, the statement added.

Eyre said in the statement that it had been an honour to serve as chief of the defence staff and added he was proud of the members of the Canadian Forces.

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