Canada’s military chief says sex assaults are still a problem in the Canadian Forces because men are “biologically wired in a certain way.”

In an interview aired Tuesday night on CBC’s The National, Gen. Tom Lawson, chief of chief of the defence staff, said sexual harassment and assaults plague the military because men are biologically predisposed to force themselves on women.

“It’s a terrible issue. It’s one that disturbs the great majority of everyone in uniform, and yet we’re still dealing with it,” Lawson said.

“It would be a trite answer, but it’s because we’re biologically wired in a certain way and there will be those who believe it is a reasonable thing to press themselves and their desires on others. It’s not the way it should be.”

The comments, which were teased on CBC News ahead the airing of the interview, immediately provoked outrage online, and Lawson soon apologized.

“Men are not ‘biologically wired’ to not respect consent. What a misandrist thing to say,” tweeted Julie Lalonde, a sexual assault prevention educator who has complained about being sexual harassed at the Royal Military College in Kingston.

“The Chief of the Defence Staff’s comments are misogynistic and inexcusable. He should resign immediately,” tweeted Joyce Murray, the Liberal’s national defence critic. “In 2015, these sexist and archaic views — from the head our Canadian Armed Forces — insulting to men and women alike!”

Transport Minister Lisa Raitt says she is at a loss for words over Lawson’s chosen “verbiage.”

Justice Minister Peter MacKay says Lawson feels badly about his choice of words during the interview.

Lawson quickly sent CBC News an apology saying his comments had been “an awkward characterization.”

“Sexual misconduct in any form, in any situation, is clearly unacceptable,’ his statement said. “My reference to biological attraction being a factor in sexual misconduct was by no means intended to excuse anyone from responsibility for their actions.”

Peter Mansbridge’s sit-down with Lawson, who will step down as military chief this fall, comes at a time when the military is under increased scrutiny for how it treats women, in light of a number of recent sexual assault complaints at the Royal Military College and a damning report by former Supreme Court justice Marie Deschamps.

In April, Deschamps concluded an “underlying sexualized culture” had created a “hostile” work environment for women in the military in which they were both harassed and silenced.

Lawson called her report “disturbing” and condemned both harassers and those who “idly stand by.”

“The Canadian Armed Forces must take strong steps forward and initiative progressive change,” he said at the time.

But while he acknowledged on The National that sexual harassment continues to be a problem for the military, Lawson insisted the military is already a safer place for women than it once was.

“What we have not been able to bring across is that we’ve gotten much, much better than we were years ago,” he said.

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“Much as we would very much like to be absolutely professional in everything we do, and I think by and large we are, there will be situations, and have been situations, where largely men will see themselves as able to press themselves onto our women members.”

Lawson, who has been Canada’s top general since October, 2012, will be replaced in September by Lt.-Gen. Jonathan Vance.