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OTTAWA — Canada’s top soldier is planning to issue a directive in the coming days encouraging military personnel to attend Pride events in uniform, as part of a larger effort to make the Forces more diverse and inclusive.

Chief of the defence staff Gen. Jonathan Vance’s directive is expected to mirror a similar order that Royal Canadian Navy commander Vice-Admiral Ron Lloyd issued to his sailors this week.

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“In an effort to epitomize diversity and inclusion,” Lloyd wrote, “the (navy) encourages attendance to Pride events and authorizes the wear of uniform to participate in or attend the parade.”

Lloyd went on to state that, effective immediately, navy personnel were no longer required to seek permission before being allowed to wear their uniforms to Pride events.

In an interview with The Canadian Press, Lloyd, who marched in last year’s Pride Parade in Toronto, said he decided to take action after a recent meeting with members of the LGBTQ community.