Former Defence Chief's Memoir Details Clashes With Trudeau Government
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Retired General Wayne Eyre describes a 'soul crushing' tenure marked by disputes over military spending, lethal aid for Ukraine, and leadership scandals.
Retired General Wayne Eyre, Canada's former chief of the defence staff, reveals in his memoir, *Into the Breach: A Soldier's Journey*, that he considered resigning multiple times due to friction with the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, according to CBC News.
Eyre describes a systemic struggle with Ottawa's "inability to make decisions at the speed of war," particularly regarding the transfer of M-777 artillery and the delivery of lethal aid to Ukraine following Russia's Feb. 11, 2022, invasion. Eyre told CBC News that the government's reluctance to provide weapons represented a "collision of ideology with reality."
Beyond operational readiness and defence funding, Eyre recounts a June 2021 incident where he felt he was thrown "under the bus" by then-Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland. The conflict arose after Eyre permitted Vice-Admiral Craig Baines to remain in his post despite Baines playing golf with former defence chief Jonathan Vance, who was under investigation for inappropriate behaviour. Eyre notes he nearly resigned during a phone call with Prime Minister Trudeau, who ultimately intervened to express confidence in him.
Eyre's tenure began in February 2021 after Admiral Art MacDonald stepped aside amid allegations of inappropriate behaviour. Eyre describes navigating a wider sexual misconduct scandal involving high-ranking leaders as "soul crushing." Despite these pressures, Eyre states he chose not to resign to avoid causing further turmoil within an already wounded institution.