Vice-admiral’s removal criticized within ranks

Suspension was made in haste, supporters say

Within nine hours of being informed the RCMP were investigating Vice-Admiral Mark Norman, Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jon Vance had suspended his second-incommand. Vance, Canada’s top military officer, said last week that though the day he removed Norman was one of the hardest of his life, he had no choice but to act.

More than a month later, no charges have been laid against Norman, and his supporters within the military question whether Vance acted too hastily and without cause in taking such a drastic and unprecedented measure.

Norman, meanwhile, has retained high-profile Toronto criminal lawyer Marie Henein to represent him. Henein defended former CBC radio host Jian Ghomeshi, who in 2016 was acquitted of a series of sexual assault charges. One of the country’s most prominent lawyers, Henein is known as a highly effective and tough opponent in court.

Vance has characterized Norman’s removal as temporary but has provided no timeline as to when — if ever — he might return to his job as vice-chief of the defence staff, the second-highest position in the Canadian military.

However, Norman’s supporters say that Vance’s actions — and the secrecy surrounding the removal — have all but scuttled the senior naval officer’s previously unblemished career.

“I think many in the naval community are optimistic that Mark Norman will ultimately be cleared,” said retired Royal Canadian Navy captain Kevin Carle, who knows Norman but didn’t serve with him. “Mark Norman is an excellent leader and the type of officer you want to have serving this country.” Norman has not commented.

Military officers with knowledge of the matter said the sequence of events leading to Norman’s removal happened quickly. Vance was first briefed by the RCMP about their investigation into Norman at around 10 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 9. (The officers asked not to be named in this story because they are not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.) That RCMP investigation concerned alleged leaks of information about the Liberal government’s shipbuilding program, and had nothing to do with national security.

In less than nine hours, Vance made his decision and completed the entire process to remove Norman, which included briefing Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan — who, sources said, did not question the actions of Vance, his former boss in Afghanistan — and working with Canadian Forces legal authorities on the details of removing Norman from his position.

At 6:30 p.m. that day, Norman was called into Vance’s office in Ottawa and presented with the general’s decision. He presented Norman with no other options, sources said, other than his removal from the job. Norman has since been suspended with full pay.

A Jan. 13 letter, signed by Vance, named Vice-Admiral Ron Lloyd, head of the Royal Canadian Navy, as acting vice-chief of the defence staff. Lloyd continues to serve as head of the navy as well.

Both Sajjan and Vance declined to comment for this article. Vance has previously refused to say what prompted him to remove Norman from office, but told journalists last week it was difficult for him.

"I had to do it,” he explained. “But to have him leave was a bad day for me; a bad day for all of us, but sometimes, the right thing to do hurts. In this case, it was the right thing to do.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said he supports Vance’s decision to remove Norman.

Asked by the Senate defence committee on Feb. 6 about the Norman case, RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson said he couldn’t provide an update on the matter.

Norman has a reputation as a straight arrow and his removal has shocked some in uniform, particularly those in the Royal Canadian Navy.

In November, Norman was asked to shepherd an investigation into problems at the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ont., an institution that has been struggling to deal with suicides and sexual assaults. When he was navy commander Norman led a 2014 crackdown on excessive drinking and the consumption of alcohol by sailors on board ships during off-hours.

It’s not clear how long Lloyd will carry in his dual role. Vance’s spokesman Lt.Col. Jason Proulx said in an email last month that Lloyd “has the full confidence of the CDS to carry out both these duties for as long as is required.

“If circumstances warrant a permanent replacement to the VCDS position, the decision will reside with the CDS,” Proulx said.