Admiral wants charge dealt with promptly

Vice-Admiral Mark Norman says he’s eager to deal with the criminal charge he faces and return to serving Canadians.

Wearing his full navy uniform, Norman made a brief court appearance Tuesday concerning an accusation he leaked sensitive information about a shipbuilding project.

Norman was charged last month with breach of trust and denies any wrongdoing. He is slated to return to Ontario court May 15 to begin setting a timetable for proceedings.

“I’m anxious to get to court, get this dealt with as quickly as possible and get back to serving the people of Canada,’’ he said following the appearance.

Norman, who was the military’s second-in-command until suspended from duty early last year, faces up to five years in prison.

The case revolves around a November 2015 decision by the newly elected Liberal government to reconsider a $700-million contract the Harper Conservatives had awarded to Quebec-based Davie Shipbuilding.

Davie was hired to convert a civilian vessel, the MV Asterix, into a temporary resupply ship that would be leased until a permanent replacement was ready.

While the plan to revisit the contract was supposed to remain secret, court documents show the RCMP suspected Norman of being upset with the decision out of concern the government would cancel the project.