Discontinuing the Canadian Military's ‘Special Selection’ Process for Staff College and Moving Toward a Viable and Ethical Integration of Women into the Senior Officer Corps

Abstract

Although affirmative action strategies have advanced the rights of women and visible minorities in the United States and Canada, there are some professions and certain occupations in Western societies that should not be required to implement specific types of affirmative action within their organizations. Applying a utilitarian philosophical framework to an example of a Canadian affirmative action strategy, this article argues that the military is one of those few professions whose leadership must be comprised of professionals who have earned their position based on experience, credibility, skill set, and knowledge, not due to directed affirmative action. The ethics of such affirmative action policies within a merit-based system do not stand on firm ground. Although the overall goals of Canadian affirmative action within the federal public service are noble, there are other ways to promote its goals within the military, without causing a clear conflict among the core military values of leadership, teamwork, honesty and integrity.