11.7°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

canada-pledges-7-million-in-relief-for-caribbean-nations-devastated-by-hurricane-melissa
CanadaOct 30, 2025

Canada pledges $7 million in relief for Caribbean nations devastated by Hurricane Melissa

The federal government has announced $7 million in humanitarian aid to assist Caribbean nations struggling to recover from the destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa. Randeep Sarai, secretary of state for international development, said the funding includes $5 million for emergency health and relief operations through humanitarian organizations, and an additional $2 million to the World Food Programme to support food distribution in Jamaica. Sarai said Canada is also ready to send supplies from its emergency stockpile through the Red Cross if requested by affected countries. The government is
two-arrested-after-gunfire-damages-surrey-home-police-probe-possible-extortion-link
CanadaOct 30, 2025

Two Arrested After Gunfire Damages Surrey Home; Police Probe Possible Extortion Link

Surrey Police Service has arrested two men following an overnight shooting that damaged a home in the area of 56 Avenue and King George Boulevard early Thursday morning. Officers were called to the scene around 2 a.m. on October 30 after reports of gunfire. When they arrived, police confirmed that the exterior of a residence had been struck by bullets. Several people were inside the home at the time, but no one was injured. Frontline officers later located a suspect vehicle nearby and arrested two men, who remain in custody as the investigation continues. The SPS Frontline Investigative Suppor
trump-administration-cuts-u-s-refugee-admissions-to-7-500-with-priority-for-white-south-africans
WorldOct 30, 2025

Trump administration cuts U.S. refugee admissions to 7,500, with priority for white South Africans

The Trump administration has announced a sharp reduction in the number of refugees the United States will accept in the coming fiscal year, setting a cap of 7,500 – the lowest in the country’s modern history. A notice published Thursday in the Federal Register confirmed the decision, which also prioritizes applications from white South Africans, a move critics say signals a major shift in U.S. refugee policy. The new ceiling marks a drastic decline from the 125,000 refugee limit set under President Joe Biden’s administration. The White House offered no detailed explanation for the cut, s
tripat-rajinder-bajwa-resigns-from-punjab-assembly-select-committee-on-sacred-texts-bill
IndiaOct 30, 2025

Tripat Rajinder Bajwa resigns from Punjab Assembly select committee on sacred texts bill

Senior Congress leader and former Punjab cabinet minister Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa has resigned from the 15-member select committee of the Punjab Legislative Assembly formed to review the “Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Sacred Religious Texts Bill, 2025.” According to official sources, Bajwa’s resignation was submitted to the Speaker and has been formally accepted by the Assembly. Party insiders said the veteran leader stepped down citing procedural and political differences related to the committee’s functioning. Some accounts also attribute the decision to his health condit
alberta-students-walk-out-gather-at-legislature-over-teachers-back-to-work-bill
FeaturedOct 30, 2025

Alberta students walk out, gather at legislature over teachers’ back-to-work bill

Students across Alberta left their classrooms on Thursday to rally at the provincial legislature, protesting the government’s decision to force striking teachers back to work. Many wore red clothing and carried homemade signs to show solidarity with educators. The walkouts, coordinated through social media, spread to several schools as students voiced frustration with what they described as an attack on teachers’ rights. The demonstrations followed the provincial government’s move to fast-track a back-to-work bill through the legislature earlier this week. Premier Danielle Smith’s gove

Related News