Norman retiring from military following deal with feds
VICE-ADMIRAL REACHES UNDISCLOSED SETT LEMENT WITH GOVERNMENT
Vice-Admiral Mark Norman will retire from the Canadian Forces after reaching an undisclosed settlement with the Department of National Defence.
The former vice-chief of the defence staff and the federal government reached a “mutually acceptable agreement, the details of which will remain confidential,” said a joint statement issued Wednesday by Norman and the Department of National Defence.
“Vice-Admiral Norman remains committed to the Navy, the Canadian Armed Forces and their mission,” the statement said. “However, after consulting with his family, his chain of command, and his counsel, VAdm Norman has decided to retire from the Canadian Armed Forces.”
“Both parties believe that this resolution will return focus to the critical work of the Canadian Forces, which is the protection of all Canadians,” said the statement.
“The Government of Canada thanks VAdm Norman for his 38 years of dedicated service, and wishes him well in all of his future endeavours.”
The deal was brokered with help from Warren Winkler, former chief justice of the Ontario Court of Appeal.
Norman, the former second-in-command of the Forces, was suspended from his job in January 2017 by Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jon Vance after the RCMP presented him with allegations that Norman was responsible for the leak of confidential cabinet information related to a proposal by Quebec-based Davie Shipbuilding to convert a commercial ship into a refuelling vessel for the Royal Canadian Navy.
Norman was later charged with one count of breach of trust, but on May 8 the charge was stayed after Norman’s defence team brought new evidence to prosecutors’ attention. Prosecutors told the court that based on the new evidence there was no likelihood of a conviction. It is not known what that evidence was, but sources have told Postmedia at least some of it was related to the former Conservative government’s push to keep the Davie deal on track, and suggested the communication Norman had with Davie that formed the basis for the charge simply showed Norman following orders. Norman, who had entered a plea of not guilty, always maintained he had done nothing wrong.
After the case against him collapsed, Norman told journalists he believed that “for me and for the Canadian Armed Forces the best choice would be for me to go back into my former position.”
Vance, too, issued a statement saying he looked “forward to welcoming (Norman) back to work as soon as possible.”
In May, the two met to discuss next steps. Mediation sessions between Norman and federal lawyers took place during the last two weeks of June. The result sees Norman retiring rather than returning to his previous post.
No date has yet been set for Norman’s retirement, DND said.
After initially declining to pay Norman’s legal fees, the federal government announced after the staying of the charge that it would cover the costs, which are estimated to be more than $1 million.
Norman appeared in uniform in Halifax on June 12 for a ceremony that saw Vice-Admiral Art McDonald assume command of the Royal Canadian Navy. To applause from the crowd, Vance acknowledged Norman in his remarks. “Great to have you here mate,” Vance said to Norman. “The family’s all together again. It feels good.”
Though Norman had said he wanted to return to his job, it is currently held by Lt.-Gen. Paul Wynnyk, who would have had to be removed from the position of vice-chief. Some of Norman’s supporters have also pointed out the senior naval officer would have been returning to what could be a less-than-welcoming environment.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had predicted on two occasions that Norman would end up in court, even though at the time no charges had been brought against the officer. A letter from Vance about Norman’s removal — sent only to the most senior staff — was leaked to the news media by someone inside National Defence headquarters within 20 minutes of being distributed.
During Norman’s pretrial hearing, a military witness recounted how a brigadier-general had boasted about attempts within the Canadian Forces to stop Norman from receiving the documents he needed for his legal defence. The judge in Norman’s pretrial hearing was so concerned that the military member who came forward with this information would face retribution from the Canadian Forces leadership that she imposed a publication ban on the individual’s name.
Before the settlement was announced, sources close to Norman told Postmedia that efforts were underway on a potential lawsuit against the federal government.
It is not known whether that lawsuit will still proceed now that a settlement has been reached.