Killing an Honourable Reputation by a Dishonourable Disputant

"Vice-Admiral Norman remains committed to the Navy, the Canadian Armed Forces and their mission. 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."
"The Government of Canada thanks VAdm Norman for his 38 years of dedicated service, and wishes him well in all of his future endeavours."
Department of National Defence, Ottawa

Vice-Admiral Mark Norman is retiring. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's agenda when the Liberal government he heads followed the previous Conservative-led government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, was to reverse all the decisions made by the Harper government. Everything from new laws enacted by the previous government to military acquisitions for the Armed Forces. Trudeau's new Liberal government changed all the names of government departments to fully distinguish them as 'his' new departments under his 'Canada-is-back' plan of re-establishing the Liberals as Canada's natural-governing party.

The Conservative government's plan to contract to purchase badly-needed Lockheed Martin's F-35 jets was jettisoned by Trudeau, and Canada ended up with elderly second-hand Australian fighter jets in an ongoing contretemps of juggling various options, none of which played out satisfactorily, leaving Canada limping along on aged jets reflective of Trudeau's intransigence. A military re-fuelling supply vessel that the Conservative Minister of Defence urged the second-in-command of the Canadian Forces, head of the Naval command, to pursue represented yet another issue Trudeau countermanded.

Documents linked to a Liberal cabinet meeting where the supply ship contract was discussed and the decision to sink it was made, were leaked and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau focused on Mark Norman, then second-in-command of the Forces as the culprit. An RCMP investigation was launched over a matter that in Ottawa saw such 'leaks' of confidential documents taking place on a regular basis simply being overlooked as 'business as usual'. Vice-Admiral Norman's home was raided by police, his files and computers taken away.

The Trudeau government meant to discard the contract for the supply ship from a Quebec shipyard and consider contracting instead with an East-Coast shipyard that was lobbying the government, and had close contacts with the-then president of the Treasury Board who made overtures on their behalf.
When news of the situation leaked and saw publication it was an embarrassment to Trudeau and he vented his rage on Norman, going so far a year before charges were eventually laid, as to twice state publicly that the issue would be going to trial.

Vice-Admiral Mark Norman, pictured with his defence lawyer Marie Henein, and the government released a joint statement on Wednesday, announcing they had a reached a 'mutually acceptable agreement' and that he would be retiring from military service. Mr. Norman had previously said he planned to resume his duties. The Hill Times file photograph by Andrew Meade

When it did, eventually, Vice-Admiral Norman's legal team unearthed evidence given them by  former Conservative Cabinet members clarifying without doubt that Norman was simply following orders, as he contended throughout his two-year ordeal. Chief of the Defence Staff Jonathan Vance had lost little time in informing his second-in-command, however, that he would be deposed from his duties. In essence, abandoning a close colleague, and giving fuel to the fire of suspicion, rather than supporting him.

Charged with one count of breach of trust after his January 2017 suspension, in May of 2019 prosecutors informed the court at trial that there was no likelihood of a conviction. Norman's legal expenses over the period in question amounted to about $1 million in his defence, which the Armed Forces declined to pay as is usually routinely done, but not in his case. Once the charges were stayed, however, the decision was reversed, and Chief of the Defence Staff Vance declared his intention to welcome Norman back to active duty.

Norman's previous role, however, was occupied, and it doesn't take much imagination to understand what a difficult working situation it would be for him. The oppressive misery he suffered resulting from Prime Minister Trudeau's intention to discredit and charge Norman with no due cause, would not be readily eased, nor would an apology from Trudeau be forthcoming. Arrangements were being made for a civil suit against the government, perhaps pre-empted by this non-disclosure agreement concluded between Vice-Admiral Norman and the government of Canada.

"This is unparalleled in Canadian history when one of our most trusted public servants, the second highest ranking member of the military, was essentially dragged through a public show trial, in many ways, over something he was later vindicated over."
"All of it could have been avoided."
former Conservative cabinet minister Erin O'Toole

Mr. Trudeau, for you and Mr. Sajjan to duck the reading of the approved by all parties parliamentary apology to Vice-Admiral Norman supports Elton John’s thesis, “Sorry seems to be the hardest word.”   Roy Green