United Nations MINUSTAH Chief of Staff Colonel Bernard Ouellette shakes hands with members of the Nepalese Military during the inspecting of various Haitian/Dominican Republic border crossing locations. Colonel Bernard Ouellette, is facing several allegations, including that he was involved in an inappropriate relationship.Corporal Shilo Adamson, Canadian Forces Combat Camera
For the second time in six weeks, a senior Canadian military officer has been relieved of command and his foreign tour has been cut short amid allegations of an inappropriate relationship.
Colonel Bernard Ouellette, the senior ranking officer of 10 Canadians serving the United Nations mission in Haiti, has been removed from his position and is the subject of a probe by military investigators.
The army colonel was widely praised earlier this year for helping co-ordinate relief efforts after a catastrophic earthquake struck Haiti in January. He is also chief of staff to the multinational UN mission.
This ouster comes just a month and a half after Canadian Brigadier-General Daniel Ménard was relieved of command for troops in southern Afghanistan over allegations he was fraternizing with a fellow soldier in a war zone.
The Canadian military, however, insists the Ouellette case is different.
Military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Chris Lemay said that the head of overseas deployments, Lieutenant-General Marc Lessard, removed the colonel because some members of his team in Haiti had complained about a breakdown of morale in the 10-Canadian military mission that he stewards.
"Lessard lost confidence - that's the thrust of it … the confidence wasn't there any more," explained Jay Paxton, spokesman for Defence Minister Peter MacKay. He stressed that the military made the decision.
Col. Ouellette is also facing allegations of conducting an inappropriate relationship in Haiti - one that appears connected to the morale complaints - but the military says this isn't what got him yanked home because it's only an allegation and is still being investigated.
Canadian soldiers are forbidden from engaging in sexual relations during their tour in Haiti, just as they are in Afghanistan.
The circumstances of the alleged relationship were different in Haiti. Col. Ouellette is not accused of inappropriate liaison with a Canadian soldier under his command or even a Canadian, but a relationship with a civilian United Nations staffer who is a foreigner to Haiti.
The Forces hadn't intended to announce the removal of Col. Ouellette, which took place June 26, but the story leaked out on Friday. It's in stark contrast to the Ménard recall, which the military announced by news release.
Lt.-Col. Lemay defended the military's intention to keep the Ouellette matter quiet, saying the investigation had not determined whether the allegations were true and it didn't feel compelled to discuss the probe of a staff officer, who is less of a public figure than Brig. Gen. Ménard.
"The last thing you want to do is put some negative light over somebody that had a great tour as chief of staff and did great during the earthquake and find out after investigation that the allegations are not that bad," Lt.-Col. Lemay said.
Col. Ouellette was almost finished a year-long posting to Haiti, which was due to end in July. The investigation into allegations and complaints about his conduct could take three to for more weeks, the military said.
Steven Chase