19.85°C Vancouver

Aug 11, 2021 7:15 PM -

Admiral McDonald says he is returning as defence chief after misconduct investigation

Share On
admiral-mcdonald-says-he-is-returning-as-defence-chief-after-misconduct-investigation
Vice-Admiral Art McDonald, the new head of the Navy, addresses the audience at the Royal Canadian Navy Change of Command ceremony in Halifax, Wednesday, June 12, 2019. McDonald says he has decided to return to his position as commander of the Canadian Armed Forces after military investigators opted not to charge him following an investigation into his conduct. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

Admiral Art McDonald says he has decided to return to his position as commander of the Canadian Armed Forces after military investigators opted not to charge him following an investigation into his conduct.

McDonald stepped down in February as chief of the defence staff as a result of a Canadian Forces National Investigation Service investigation into an allegation of misconduct.

But in a statement released by his legal team this afternoon, McDonald says he is returning to the position after the six-month investigation completely exonerated him and that he is returning to his post.

It was not immediately clear whether Prime Minister Justin Trudeau or Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan were aware of McDonald's plan to take back command of the military from acting defence chief Lt.-Gen. Wayne Eyre.

The Liberal government has faced calls not to reinstate McDonald, with some experts and victim's advocates questioning the decision to have military police investigate Canada's top military officer.

McDonald in his statement says he co-operated fully during the investigation, and cited the need to respect due process in Canada.

Latest news

canada-u-s-trade-talks-enter-critical-phase-as-tariff-deadline-looms
CanadaAug 13, 2026

Canada-U.S. Trade Talks Enter Critical Phase as Tariff Deadline Looms

Canada-U.S. trade talks have entered another critical phase, with Canadian Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer holding another emergency meeting in Washington, D.C. on Thursday. Canada’s chief trade negotiator, Alesia Charette, is also taking part in the meeting. The latest meeting comes as both sides race against the clock to reach a trade agreement and prevent the situation from escalating further. It is the second face-to-face meeting between Canadian and U.S. officials this week and the fourth in the past three weeks. According to reports, the nego
CanadaAug 13, 2026

E-Scooters and E-Bikes Pose Serious Risk to Children in Canada, 10 Deaths Reported Last Year

The use of e-scooters and e-bikes is proving increasingly dangerous for children in Canada. According to a report from the Canadian Paediatric Society, 10 children died last year from injuries linked to e-scooter and e-bike crashes, with six of those deaths occurring in Ontario. The report also found that 12 children were admitted to intensive care units following e-scooter-related crashes, while 26 children required hospital treatment for two or more days. The concerning findings are based on information collected from paediatric specialists across Canada. Nearly half of the serious cases inv
sukhbir-singh-badal-attacked-at-nanded-sahib-sustains-injury-to-hand
IndiaAug 13, 2026

Sukhbir Singh Badal Attacked at Nanded Sahib, Sustains Injury to Hand

Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal was reportedly attacked at Nanded Sahib in Maharashtra on Thursday. According to preliminary information, Badal sustained an injury to his hand and was taken to a private hospital for treatment. His condition is said to be stable. The incident reportedly took place at around 11 a.m. when Badal had gone to Mata Sahib Kaur Gurdwara at Nanded Sahib along with his supporters and security personnel. According to reports, taking advantage of the crowd at the gurdwara, a Nihang Sikh allegedly approached Badal carrying a sharp-edged weapon and attempte
BCAug 13, 2026

Tumbler Ridge School Shooting: Court Documents Reveal New Details

Court documents related to the mass shooting at a school in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., in February have been made public, shedding new light on the mental state of 18-year-old shooter Jesse Van Rootselaar and confusion during the initial police response. The documents, released to a media outlet by a B.C. Provincial Court judge, indicate that Van Rootselaar was struggling with his mental health and had a strong interest in firearms. According to the report, the RCMP initially believed there could be two shooters after witnesses provided different names for the suspect. Police later determined that t
CanadaAug 13, 2026

Canada-US Trade Talks Near Critical Deadline as Tariff Threat Looms

Canada and the United States are at a critical point in their ongoing trade negotiations, with the August 19 deadline for avoiding new U.S. tariffs on Canadian exports fast approaching. Despite intensive discussions between officials from both countries, no agreement has been reached so far. Canadian officials are reportedly dissatisfied with Washington’s latest proposal, saying the offer falls well short of what Ottawa had been seeking. According to reports, the United States presented a new proposal on Tuesday that included reductions in tariffs on certain sectors. However, the proposed re

Related News