Admiral issue not national security
The removal of Vice-Admiral Mark Norman from his job had nothing to do with nat i onal security, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan said Tuesday, though he refused to provide any other details.
Norman, who served as vice chief of the defence staff, was temporarily removed from command on Jan. 13 by Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jon Vance.
No explanation was provided at the time, and Sajjan told journalists at the Liberal government’s cabinet retreat in Calgary Tuesday that “this had nothing to do with national security."
Sources have said the removal of the second- highest officer in the Canadian Forces was linked to the alleged leak of information on the government’s shipbuilding program. But the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces will not confirm that claim, and Norman has not commented.
Sajjan repeated his statement t hat he s upports Vance in his decision to remove Norman, who had previously been head of the Royal Canadian Navy.
Norman has a reputation as straight- shooter and his removal has surprised some in uniform, particularly those in the Navy.
He has been vocal in his concerns about the government’s shipbuilding program.
He pointed out in 2015 that the federal government seriously misjudged t he amount of money needed to build the Canadian Surface Combatant ships. In addition, he has privately raised concerns the current shipbuilding plan may mean the Navy might not get enough ships in the future.
Norman’s concerns are well- known inside the Liberal government. In December, 2015, he told CBC journalist James Cudmore t hat t he public had not been given accurate information about the growing price of the surface combatants, saying the warships alone would likely cost $ 30 billion, which could climb to $ 42 billion with added costs.
Cudmore is now a procurement adviser for Sajjan.
Public Services and Procurement Canada declined to comment on whether Norman’s removal will have any impact on the Canadian Surface Combatant program, referring the question to the Department of National Defence, which refused to comment.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has also refused to provide any additional details about Norman’s removal. But like Sajjan, he said he supported Vance in his decision.