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Michel Drapeau

Michel W. Drapeau is a law professor at the University of Ottawa. He is also a lawyer. He served in the Canadian Armed Forces for 34 year retiring in the rank of Colonel in 1993. They are the co-authors of a text on military law titled “Military Justice In Action” whose second edition was published by Carswell in 2015.

Does ‘Canada First’ apply to feeding our cadets?

  • OTTAWA—Prior to enlisting in the Regular Force in 1961, I attended Army cadet summer training camps in Farnham, Que., for four consecutive summers. Ever
Opinion | BY MICHEL DRAPEAU | December 30, 2020
Junior Ranger Audrey Mercier-Marcoux of the Tête-à-la-Baleine patrol participates in the individual electronic shooting competition during the National Cadet Marksmanship Championship at CFB Valcartier on May 25, 2019. DND photograph by Cpl. Rebecca Garand

Does ‘Canada First’ apply to feeding our cadets?

Opinion | BY MICHEL DRAPEAU | December 30, 2020
  • OTTAWA—Prior to enlisting in the Regular Force in 1961, I attended Army cadet summer training camps in Farnham, Que., for four consecutive summers. Ever

Does ‘Canada First’ apply to feeding our cadets?

Opinion | BY MICHEL DRAPEAU | December 30, 2020
  • OTTAWA—Prior to enlisting in the Regular Force in 1961, I attended Army cadet summer training camps in Farnham, Que., for four consecutive summers. Ever
Junior Ranger Audrey Mercier-Marcoux of the Tête-à-la-Baleine patrol participates in the individual electronic shooting competition during the National Cadet Marksmanship Championship at CFB Valcartier on May 25, 2019. DND photograph by Cpl. Rebecca Garand

Auditor general’s report on sexual misconduct in military: another canon shot, new signal of distress

  • In April 2015, the general public took note of former justice of the Supreme Court Marie Deschamps’ report to the then chief of the
Opinion | BY MICHEL DRAPEAU | November 26, 2018
Auditor General Michael Ferguson, pictured in this file photograph at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa, was not at last week's press conference due to health reasons. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Auditor general’s report on sexual misconduct in military: another canon shot, new signal of distress

Opinion | BY MICHEL DRAPEAU | November 26, 2018
  • In April 2015, the general public took note of former justice of the Supreme Court Marie Deschamps’ report to the then chief of the

Auditor general’s report on sexual misconduct in military: another canon shot, new signal of distress

Opinion | BY MICHEL DRAPEAU | November 26, 2018
  • In April 2015, the general public took note of former justice of the Supreme Court Marie Deschamps’ report to the then chief of the
Auditor General Michael Ferguson, pictured in this file photograph at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa, was not at last week's press conference due to health reasons. The Hill Times photographs by Andrew Meade

Modernization of courts martial: a matter of priority

  • OTTAWA—In January 2018, an interim report from the Department of National Defence (DND) considered the many impediments to the military’s court martial system. The
Opinion | BY MICHEL DRAPEAU | October 15, 2018
In May 2018, Auditor General Michael Ferguson also identified problems with the structure and administration of military justice. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Modernization of courts martial: a matter of priority

Opinion | BY MICHEL DRAPEAU | October 15, 2018
  • OTTAWA—In January 2018, an interim report from the Department of National Defence (DND) considered the many impediments to the military’s court martial system. The

Modernization of courts martial: a matter of priority

Opinion | BY MICHEL DRAPEAU | October 15, 2018
  • OTTAWA—In January 2018, an interim report from the Department of National Defence (DND) considered the many impediments to the military’s court martial system. The
In May 2018, Auditor General Michael Ferguson also identified problems with the structure and administration of military justice. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Military rights to be affected by prorogation

  • OTTAWA—In some respects, members of the Canadian Armed Forces have less rights under the Constitution and Canadian law than tourists, refugees, or convicted criminals
Opinion | BY JOSHUA JUNEAU, MICHEL DRAPEAU | July 23, 2018
Members of the Operation Presence Mali Force Protection, pictured on July 17, 2018, in Gao, Mali. In some respects, members of the Canadian Armed Forces have less rights under the Constitution and Canadian law than tourists, refugees, or convicted criminals in prison, write Joshua Juneau and Michel Drapeau. Photograph courtesy of DND

Military rights to be affected by prorogation

Opinion | BY JOSHUA JUNEAU, MICHEL DRAPEAU | July 23, 2018
  • OTTAWA—In some respects, members of the Canadian Armed Forces have less rights under the Constitution and Canadian law than tourists, refugees, or convicted criminals

Military rights to be affected by prorogation

Opinion | BY JOSHUA JUNEAU, MICHEL DRAPEAU | July 23, 2018
  • OTTAWA—In some respects, members of the Canadian Armed Forces have less rights under the Constitution and Canadian law than tourists, refugees, or convicted criminals
Members of the Operation Presence Mali Force Protection, pictured on July 17, 2018, in Gao, Mali. In some respects, members of the Canadian Armed Forces have less rights under the Constitution and Canadian law than tourists, refugees, or convicted criminals in prison, write Joshua Juneau and Michel Drapeau. Photograph courtesy of DND

Sajjan deserves applause for ‘transformational’ military justice reforms

  • OTTAWA—Change is afoot on the military justice file, and it’s not all bad news. On May 10, 2018, Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan
Opinion | BY JOSHUA JUNEAU, MICHEL DRAPEAU | May 14, 2018
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan introduced a bill into the House last week to bring in major reforms to the military justice system, including taking away the power of military officers to impose penal consequences on soldiers without a formal trial. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Sajjan deserves applause for ‘transformational’ military justice reforms

Opinion | BY JOSHUA JUNEAU, MICHEL DRAPEAU | May 14, 2018
  • OTTAWA—Change is afoot on the military justice file, and it’s not all bad news. On May 10, 2018, Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan

Sajjan deserves applause for ‘transformational’ military justice reforms

Opinion | BY JOSHUA JUNEAU, MICHEL DRAPEAU | May 14, 2018
  • OTTAWA—Change is afoot on the military justice file, and it’s not all bad news. On May 10, 2018, Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan introduced a bill into the House last week to bring in major reforms to the military justice system, including taking away the power of military officers to impose penal consequences on soldiers without a formal trial. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Time for Parliament to legislate control over Canada’s military criminal justice system

  • OTTAWA—The cornerstone of Canada’s constitutional democracy is the separation of government powers. As the artisans of law and with a complete oversight duty over
Opinion | BY JOSHUA JUNEAU, MICHEL DRAPEAU | January 15, 2018
Canada’s Minister of Justice Jody Wilson-Raybould is also ‘absent in office’ on the military justice file, write Michel Drapeau and Joshua Juneau. Yet, Sec. 4 of the Department of Justice Act gives the minister responsibility as superintendent over 'all matters connected with the administration of justice in Canada,' including the military justice system. The Hill Times file photograph

Time for Parliament to legislate control over Canada’s military criminal justice system

Opinion | BY JOSHUA JUNEAU, MICHEL DRAPEAU | January 15, 2018
  • OTTAWA—The cornerstone of Canada’s constitutional democracy is the separation of government powers. As the artisans of law and with a complete oversight duty over

Time for Parliament to legislate control over Canada’s military criminal justice system

Opinion | BY JOSHUA JUNEAU, MICHEL DRAPEAU | January 15, 2018
  • OTTAWA—The cornerstone of Canada’s constitutional democracy is the separation of government powers. As the artisans of law and with a complete oversight duty over
Canada’s Minister of Justice Jody Wilson-Raybould is also ‘absent in office’ on the military justice file, write Michel Drapeau and Joshua Juneau. Yet, Sec. 4 of the Department of Justice Act gives the minister responsibility as superintendent over 'all matters connected with the administration of justice in Canada,' including the military justice system. The Hill Times file photograph

Time for military to get real about risks of anti-malaria drug

  • OTTAWA—The Canadian Armed Forces are excellent at many things, but tropical medicine is definitely not one of them. For months now, over the rising
Opinion | BY MICHEL DRAPEAU, AMIR ATTARAN, PAT STOGRAN | March 13, 2017
Members of the Canadian military deserve better than to be give an anti-malaria drug with dangerous side-effects when alternatives are available, write Amir Attaran, Michel Drapeau, and Pat Stogran. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright

Time for military to get real about risks of anti-malaria drug

Opinion | BY MICHEL DRAPEAU, AMIR ATTARAN, PAT STOGRAN | March 13, 2017
  • OTTAWA—The Canadian Armed Forces are excellent at many things, but tropical medicine is definitely not one of them. For months now, over the rising

Time for military to get real about risks of anti-malaria drug

Opinion | BY MICHEL DRAPEAU, AMIR ATTARAN, PAT STOGRAN | March 13, 2017
  • OTTAWA—The Canadian Armed Forces are excellent at many things, but tropical medicine is definitely not one of them. For months now, over the rising
Members of the Canadian military deserve better than to be give an anti-malaria drug with dangerous side-effects when alternatives are available, write Amir Attaran, Michel Drapeau, and Pat Stogran. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright

Parliament should oversee appointment of incoming VCDS

  • OTTAWA—Members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) serve the Crown at the pleasure of and are accountable to Canadians as their representatives, at home
Opinion | BY JOSHUA JUNEAU, MICHEL DRAPEAU | January 30, 2017
A procurement scandal saw Canada’s second-ranking soldier, Vice-Admiral Mark Norman, the vice chief of defence staff (VCDS), [temporarily] removed from the performance of his duties. This is unprecedented. Despite public appetite and outcry, the CAF has imposed a wall of silence to shut out the very people they serve. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Parliament should oversee appointment of incoming VCDS

Opinion | BY JOSHUA JUNEAU, MICHEL DRAPEAU | January 30, 2017
  • OTTAWA—Members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) serve the Crown at the pleasure of and are accountable to Canadians as their representatives, at home

Parliament should oversee appointment of incoming VCDS

Opinion | BY JOSHUA JUNEAU, MICHEL DRAPEAU | January 30, 2017
  • OTTAWA—Members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) serve the Crown at the pleasure of and are accountable to Canadians as their representatives, at home
A procurement scandal saw Canada’s second-ranking soldier, Vice-Admiral Mark Norman, the vice chief of defence staff (VCDS), [temporarily] removed from the performance of his duties. This is unprecedented. Despite public appetite and outcry, the CAF has imposed a wall of silence to shut out the very people they serve. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia

Rash of cadets’ deaths at Royal Military College: the need for a coroner’s inquest 

  • OTTAWA—Suicide is a most troubling occurrence, particularly when it occurs in a rather affluent and abounding setting such as the Royal Military College (RMC),
Opinion | BY MICHEL DRAPEAU | September 12, 2016
Cadets pictured at the RMCC's obstacle course in 2014. Photograph courtesy of Royal Military College of Canada

Rash of cadets’ deaths at Royal Military College: the need for a coroner’s inquest 

Opinion | BY MICHEL DRAPEAU | September 12, 2016
  • OTTAWA—Suicide is a most troubling occurrence, particularly when it occurs in a rather affluent and abounding setting such as the Royal Military College (RMC),

Rash of cadets’ deaths at Royal Military College: the need for a coroner’s inquest 

Opinion | BY MICHEL DRAPEAU | September 12, 2016
  • OTTAWA—Suicide is a most troubling occurrence, particularly when it occurs in a rather affluent and abounding setting such as the Royal Military College (RMC),
Cadets pictured at the RMCC's obstacle course in 2014. Photograph courtesy of Royal Military College of Canada

Why’s the CF’s resistant to transparency, accountability, and oversight?

  • OTTAWA—Last week, after a 38-year career in the Canadian Army, Lieut.-Gen. Guy Thibault, who was the then vice-chief of defence staff, used his last
Opinion | BY JOSHUA JUNEAU, MICHEL DRAPEAU | August 15, 2016
Canadian soldiers move a rigid hull inflatable boat at the start of an ambush training scenario at the Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area in Poland on Aug. 4, 2016 during Operation Reassurance. Photograph courtesy Captain Mark Ruban, Operation Reassurance

Why’s the CF’s resistant to transparency, accountability, and oversight?

Opinion | BY JOSHUA JUNEAU, MICHEL DRAPEAU | August 15, 2016
  • OTTAWA—Last week, after a 38-year career in the Canadian Army, Lieut.-Gen. Guy Thibault, who was the then vice-chief of defence staff, used his last

Why’s the CF’s resistant to transparency, accountability, and oversight?

Opinion | BY JOSHUA JUNEAU, MICHEL DRAPEAU | August 15, 2016
  • OTTAWA—Last week, after a 38-year career in the Canadian Army, Lieut.-Gen. Guy Thibault, who was the then vice-chief of defence staff, used his last
Canadian soldiers move a rigid hull inflatable boat at the start of an ambush training scenario at the Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area in Poland on Aug. 4, 2016 during Operation Reassurance. Photograph courtesy Captain Mark Ruban, Operation Reassurance

ATI on a slow descent to irrelevance, giving commissioner order-making power will not fix it

  • The Access to Information regime is currently on slow descent to irrelevance. Increasingly, it is almost impossible to obtain access to substantive information in
Opinion | BY MICHEL DRAPEAU | April 4, 2016

ATI on a slow descent to irrelevance, giving commissioner order-making power will not fix it

Opinion | BY MICHEL DRAPEAU | April 4, 2016
  • The Access to Information regime is currently on slow descent to irrelevance. Increasingly, it is almost impossible to obtain access to substantive information in

ATI on a slow descent to irrelevance, giving commissioner order-making power will not fix it

Opinion | BY MICHEL DRAPEAU | April 4, 2016
  • The Access to Information regime is currently on slow descent to irrelevance. Increasingly, it is almost impossible to obtain access to substantive information in

Canada’s military summary trials are frozen in time: Drapeau, Juneau

  • OTTAWA—Military summary trials are ancient, outdated, and unfair—and they are insulated from judicial scrutiny. Immediate reform is necessary to this system of “justice,” not
Opinion | BY JOSHUA JUNEAU, MICHEL DRAPEAU | February 15, 2016
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan. Recently, the Department of National Defence’s plans and priorities report highlighted major recruiting and retention issues with the Canadian Forces Reserves, who are running at 19 per cent below authorized strength. Perhaps this isn’t surprising. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright

Canada’s military summary trials are frozen in time: Drapeau, Juneau

Opinion | BY JOSHUA JUNEAU, MICHEL DRAPEAU | February 15, 2016
  • OTTAWA—Military summary trials are ancient, outdated, and unfair—and they are insulated from judicial scrutiny. Immediate reform is necessary to this system of “justice,” not

Canada’s military summary trials are frozen in time: Drapeau, Juneau

Opinion | BY JOSHUA JUNEAU, MICHEL DRAPEAU | February 15, 2016
  • OTTAWA—Military summary trials are ancient, outdated, and unfair—and they are insulated from judicial scrutiny. Immediate reform is necessary to this system of “justice,” not
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan. Recently, the Department of National Defence’s plans and priorities report highlighted major recruiting and retention issues with the Canadian Forces Reserves, who are running at 19 per cent below authorized strength. Perhaps this isn’t surprising. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright

Parliamentary control of Armed Forces: a matter of national urgency and public interest

  • OTTAWA—In 2014, the national media was awash with reports of sexual misconduct and harassment in the military, fuelled, in large part, by a front-cover exposé
Opinion | BY GILLES LETOURNEAU, MICHEL DRAPEAU | January 18, 2016

Parliamentary control of Armed Forces: a matter of national urgency and public interest

Opinion | BY GILLES LETOURNEAU, MICHEL DRAPEAU | January 18, 2016
  • OTTAWA—In 2014, the national media was awash with reports of sexual misconduct and harassment in the military, fuelled, in large part, by a front-cover exposé

Parliamentary control of Armed Forces: a matter of national urgency and public interest

Opinion | BY GILLES LETOURNEAU, MICHEL DRAPEAU | January 18, 2016
  • OTTAWA—In 2014, the national media was awash with reports of sexual misconduct and harassment in the military, fuelled, in large part, by a front-cover exposé
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