26.39°C Vancouver

Sep 17, 2021 7:15 PM -

Former defence chief Jonathan Vance's case adjourned to October

Share On
former-defence-chief-jonathan-vances-case-adjourned-to-october
Senior members of the Canadian Forces sitting in the front row listen as Chief of the Defence Staff Jonathan Vance delivers remarks at the Ottawa Conference on Security and Defence in Ottawa on Wednesday, March 4, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Former defence chief Jonathan Vance's obstruction of justice case has been adjourned till next month after its first, brief, virtual courtroom proceeding.

Military police charged the former Canadian Armed Forces commander, who was not present but represented by a lawyer at the hearing Friday, with one count of obstruction of justice in July.

Investigators referred the case to the civilian court system, citing what it described as "the limitations of the military justice system" in trying Canada's top military officer.

The Canadian Forces National Investigation Service alleged in court documents that Vance repeatedly contacted a woman identified as "K.B." in early February and "tried to persuade her to make false statements about their past relationship'' to military investigators.

Maj. Kellie Brennan told a parliamentary committee in April that she and Vance had an inappropriate relationship that started in 2001 and continued after he became chief of the defence staff in 2015.

Brennan also told the committee she had recorded Vance telling her on the phone what to tell military police, and had turned those recordings over to the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service.

Vance's lawyer Rodney Sellar did not respond to several phone calls this week. The former defence chief, who retired from the Canadian Armed Forces in April, has previously denied any wrongdoing.

Crown attorney Tim Radcliffe indicated during Friday's hearing that the charge against Vance would be dealt with as a summary rather than an indictable offence.

Vance's case is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 15.

Retired lieutenant-colonel Rory Fowler, who is now a lawyer specializing in military cases, says the decision to treat Vance's case as a summary offence is notable.

The case will be tried without a jury in provincial rather than Superior Court, and Vance will face a maximum of two years less a day in prison if convicted, rather than up to 10 years if tried as an indictable offence.

"It signals that the Crown does not consider it serious enough to proceed by indictment," said Fowler, who is one of the lawyers representing Admiral Art McDonald in his push for reinstatement as chief of the staff.

McDonald temporarily stepped aside in February, five weeks after taking over from Vance as Canada's top military officer, due to a military police investigation into his conduct.

That investigation ended in August without any charges, though the Liberal government refused to reinstate McDonald and instead put him on administrative leave.

Gen. Wayne Eyre is currently acting chief of the defence staff.

Latest news

BCAug 25, 2025

Proposed changes will make it easier for families to navigate legal system

The Province is intending to propose changes to the Family Law Act (FLA) to give more support to families and people experiencing family violence and to offer more parenting arrangements that put children’s needs first. The proposed changes come from a policy paper developed during Phase 2 of the multi-year review of the Family Law Act. The FLA is the main law that deals with family violence, guardianship, parenting duties, support payments and dividing property after a separation. The review looks at how the law can better reflect today’s society and recent court decisions. “This is the
WorldAug 25, 2025

Punjabi truck driver involved in crash and accused of being in US illegally, denied bail

A Florida judge on Saturday denied bail to truck driver Harjinder Singh in connection with a fatal crash in Fort Pierce. Harjinder was arrested on August 16 in connection with the August 12 crash. Investigators say Singh attempted to make an illegal U-turn with his semitruck, which caused a minivan to collide with a trailer, killing all three occupants. The Trump administration says Harjinder Singh, 28, was in the United States illegally and entered the United States illegally from Mexico in 2018. He is being held in the St. Lucie County Jail. Judge Lauren Sweet denied bail, saying that Har
human-remains-discovered-in-burned-vehicle-near-kamloops-b-c-rcmp
BCAug 25, 2025

Human remains discovered in burned vehicle near Kamloops, B.C.: RCMP

Police in Kamloops, B.C., say human remains were found in a burned out vehicle on a road north of the city on Saturday. Mounties say the Tk’emlups Rural RCMP responded to a reported vehicle fire on Tranquille-Criss Creek Road, where they found a burned black 2019 Volkswagen Golf that they believe was stolen. They say officers found human remains inside the car, and the region's major crime unit is now investigating the suspicious death. Staff Sgt. Jason Smart with the Southeast District Major Crime Unit says they're looking for the public's assistance to figure out what led to the fire and d
negotiations-set-to-resume-between-canada-post-union
CanadaAug 25, 2025

Negotiations set to resume between Canada Post, union

Negotiations between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers are set to resume. A Canada Post spokeswoman says in a statement that the Crown corporation is committed to the collective bargaining process with CUPW and to reaching an agreement. She says Canada Post is reviewing CUPW's offers and has requested further details to support the process, adding it is in regular contact with CUPW through federal mediators. Canada Post's comments come after negotiations that had been scheduled for Friday were delayed. CUPW said in a press release a day earlier that it was informed by Canada
multiple-journalists-killed-by-israeli-strikes-on-gaza-hospital
WorldAug 25, 2025

Multiple journalists killed by Israeli strikes on Gaza hospital

Four journalists were among at least eight people killed on Monday in a strike on a hospital in southern Gaza, including a freelancer who worked for the Associated Press. Mariam Dagga, 33 freelanced for the AP since the Gaza war began, as well as other news outlets. Daggareported on Nasser Hospital doctorsstruggling to save children with no prior health issues who were wasting away from starvation. Al Jazeera confirmed that its journalist Mohammed Salam was among those who were killed in the Nasser hospital strike. Reuters reported that its contractor cameraman Hussam al-Masri was also killed

Related News