Tories use question period to grill Trudeau over Norman.

OTTAWA • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau repeatedly refused to comment Wednesday when asked whether his government will provide access to a ream of secret documents requested by the defence team for Vice-Admiral Mark Norman.

Conservative MPs devoted every one of their allotted questions to the subject during question period in the House of Commons Wednesday, a sign they are keen to turn up the political heat on the Liberals over the criminal trial of Norman, who was the second-highest officer in Canada’s military when he was suspended from duty in January 2017.

The RCMP charged Norman with one count of breach of trust in March 2018, alleging he leaked classified information with the goal of scuttling a Liberal government plan to halt a project to acquire a naval supply ship from Quebecbased Davie Shipbuilding.

Norman’s lawyers contend the government has not disclosed documents essential to their ability to defend their client. In a court filing on Oct. 12, Norman’s defence lawyers Marie Henein and Christine Mainville said the government has “cherry-picked” its disclosure so far, and made 52 requests for additional government documents, some of which may be considered cabinet confidences.

“The Prime Minister has the complete discretion to waive Cabinet confidences for his Cabinet in whole or in part. The Prime Minister through the Office of the Privy Council has refused to waive any Cabinet confidences except those required to prosecute VAdm Norman,” the court filing says.

But Trudeau declined to answer any of the 24 questions Conservative MPs put to him on the Norman matter Wednesday. “It would be inappropriate for me to comment on this affair because it is before the courts,” he answered each time.

“Mr. Speaker, he can try and hide behind the same bogus answer,” said Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer. “This is not about commenting on the case. This is about his decision not to release documents that ViceAdmiral Norman needs to have a fair trial. If he believes that accused individuals in this country have that right, will he release those documents?”

Conservative MPs also pointed out Trudeau had previously been willing to comment on the investigation into Norman. In April 2017, Trudeau told a news conference Norman’s case “will likely end up before the courts,” and at a town hall in February 2018, he said the Norman investigation would “inevitably” lead to “court processes.” Both comments came before the RCMP charged Norman in March 2018.

Norman’s case is scheduled to be back in court on Nov. 2. The trial is scheduled to start Aug. 19, 2019 and run for seven or eight weeks, meaning it may coincide with the next federal election campaign.