Canada's first woman armed forces chief: 'I can’t believe we have to justify women in combat'

HALIFAX – The first woman to head Canada’s armed forces pushed back on renewed debate over women serving in combat roles related to President-elect Trump’s pick for Defense secretary, calling it a distraction to force women to justify their contribution to defense and national security.

Gen. Jennie Carignan, Chief of Defense Staff of Canada’s Armed Forces, was speaking at the Halifax International Security Forum and responded to comments made a day earlier by Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), who said women in combat roles “creates certain unique situations” and called it “delusional” to think otherwise. 

Risch’s comments followed questioning on Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, who has spoken out against women serving in combat roles in the military and drawn pushback from, in particular, Democratic senators charged with overseeing his confirmation hearing. 

“I wouldn't want anyone to leave this forum with this idea that women are a distraction to defense or national security,” Carignan said, introducing her remarks as a direct rebuttal to Risch’s comments.  

“After 39 years of career as a combat arms officer and risking my life in many operations across the world, I can’t believe that in 2024 we still have to justify the contribution of women to their defense and to their service in their country," she added.

Carginan continued, “I wouldn’t want anyone to leave this forum with this idea that it is some kind of social experiment.” 

She assumed command of Canada’s armed forces in July, becoming the first woman to take up the post.

Her remarks marked more direct international pushback to Trump's nominations, where foreign officials often walk a fine diplomatic line, emphasizing their country's own values as a contrast to controversies playing out in the U.S.