A senior officer at Canadian Forces Base Valcartier in Quebec is facing criminal charges.

Lt.-Col. Martin Bernier, the former commander of the 2nd Canadian Division Training Centre at 2nd Canadian Division Support Base Valcartier, faces two charges of sexual assault and two charges of harassment.

The military did not elaborate on what led to the charges, which were laid Wednesday.

But Lt.-Cmdr. Mike Amirault, acting commanding officer of the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service, says in a statement the charges are "significant."

In the statement, Amirault says there is no place for sexual misconduct within the Canadian Armed Forces.