OTTAWA – The Military Police Complaints Commission (MPCC) has released a damning assessment of an internal investigation regarding an alleged sexual assault case involving a Royal Canadian Air Force officer, Major Cristian Hiestand. The report criticizes the inquiry as rushed, superficial, and biased, echoing concerns raised by the officer's family following his tragic suicide two months after the allegations were made.
In a series of two reports made public, MPCC chairperson Tammy Tremblay articulated serious reservations about the investigative process. Tremblay's findings identified that investigators demonstrated confirmation bias throughout the internal inquiry. The reports emphasize that the investigation was “inadequate” and was marked by “undue haste.” This conclusion starkly contrasts an earlier assessment by the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal's office, which had cleared military police of any wrongdoing concerning the handling of the case and deemed the complaints against them unsubstantiated.
Major Cristian Hiestand, who served as a flight instructor in a flight training squadron, faced two charges of sexual assault in 2021. His demise by suicide in July 2021 deeply impacted his family, prompting his parents and sister to file distinct complaints about the conduct of the investigation against him. The MPCC’s findings have now cast a critical light on the operations of military police leadership at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Moose Jaw, indicating they committed wrongs during the handling of the case.
Additionally, the investigation's integrity was further called into question with revelations that decisions surrounding the case were made by an "intoxicated supervisor." This detail underscores the serious concerns about the professionalism and standards maintained within the military police at the time.
The MPCC's reports aim to address the mishandlings and biases that affected the investigation, shedding light on the systemic issues that can compromise inquiries of this nature within military settings. As the family of Major Hiestand continues to seek accountability and justice, the discussions surrounding military police conduct and the treatment of sexual assault allegations remain pivotal in ensuring that such cases are handled with the necessary seriousness and integrity.
This report about the events and findings concerning the MPCC and Major Hiestand was initially publicized on February 12, 2026, marking a significant moment in the ongoing discourse surrounding military accountability and the protection of victims within Canadian Armed Forces settings.
