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Mar 4, 2021 3:03 AM -

Former military ombudsman says he told defence minister about Vance allegations

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National Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan speaks during a news conference in Ottawa, Monday, March 30, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

A former military ombudsman says he told Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan about allegations of misconduct against former chief of defence, General Jonathan Vance three years ago, and was met with hostility.

Gary Walbourne spoke to a parliamentary committee this afternoon, telling members he had a toxic working relationship with Sajjan.

Walbourne says he told the minister that the person accusing Vance of wrongdoing did not want to issue a formal complaint.

Sajjan at that time repeatedly refused to say what he and Walbourne discussed during their meeting on March 1, 2018, citing confidentiality.

But the former ombudsman, whose testimony is protected by parliamentary privilege, says he asked Sajjan to get back to him with advice on how to handle the allegations, but was instead cut off from any further contact with the minister and that his financial and staffing authorities were frozen.

Vance has been accused of having an ongoing relationship with a service member that he significantly outranked.

Sajjan expressed surprise when Global News reported allegations against Vance.

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