Category: Gen. Jonathan Vance

PM Defends Aide, Says Office Didn’t Know Vance Allegations Were ‘Me Too Complaint’

OTTAWA—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau vigorously defended his top aide on Tuesday, saying that while his office knew there was a complaint against then-defence chief general Jonathan Vance three years ago, no one knew it was about sexual misconduct. The comments came in response to fresh questions about what the prime minister and his chief of…


Here Are the Key Players in the Military’s Sexual Misconduct Scandal

OTTAWA—Two House of Commons committees continue to probe the Liberal government’s handling of sexual misconduct allegations against senior military officers. Here are the key players involved in the scandal: Gen. Jonathan Vance: Former chief of the defence staff who stepped down on Jan. 14. A subordinate at the heart of the sexual misconduct allegations, Maj….


Woman at Heart of Sexual Misconduct Allegations Against Vance Doesn’t Expect Justice

OTTAWA—The woman at the heart of sexual misconduct allegations against Canada’s former top military commander says retired Gen. Jonathan Vance believes he owns the military police that are investigating him. Maj. Kellie Brennan told a House of Commons committee Thursday that the former chief of the defence staff believes he is “untouchable.” During bombshell testimony…


Sajjan Aide Skips Committee Hearing on Military Misconduct, Minister Appears Instead

OTTAWA—Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan’s former chief of staff is the latest Liberal aide to avoid a House of Commons order that she testify before a parliamentary committee. A majority of MPs approved a motion demanding Zita Astravas appear before the Commons defence committee to answer questions about the government’s handling of allegations of sexual misconduct…


Canadian Forces Writing ‘Playbook’ for Handling Allegations Involving Top Brass

OTTAWA, Kan.—The acting chief of the defence staff says he has asked military officials to develop a “playbook” for handling future misconduct allegations against senior officers. That is one of several new initiatives that Lt.-Gen. Wayne Eyre told a parliamentary committee today are underway to address sexual misconduct in the ranks. The Canadian Armed Forces…


Probes in 2015 Found No Wrongdoing Before Vance Named Defence Chief: Harper Aide

OTTAWA—A former top aide to Stephen Harper says a flurry of investigations and queries into allegations of misconduct by Gen. Jonathan Vance were carried out in the weeks and months before his appointment as chief of the defence staff in 2015. Ray Novak says those probes, largely led by senior public servants, did not turn…


PMO Knew Existence of Allegations Against Vance, Not Specifics, in 2018: Trudeau

OTTAWA—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his office knew there was an allegation of sexual misconduct against then-defence chief Gen. Jonathan Vance in 2018. But Trudeau says he and others in government did not know the specifics of the allegation until a Global News report last month. The prime minister made the comments this afternoon in…


Ex Ombudsman Says He Told Defence Minister About Vance Allegations in 2018

OTTAWA—Former military ombudsman Gary Walbourne told a parliamentary committee Wednesday that he informed Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan of allegations of misconduct against Gen. Jonathan Vance during a “hostile” closed-door meeting three years ago. Walbourne’s remarks appear to contradict Sajjan’s own testimony to the same committee Feb. 19, when he said he was as surprised as…


Military Police Investigated Vance in 2015, No Charges Laid, DND Says

OTTAWA—The Department of National Defence says military police opened an investigation in 2015 into Gen. Jonathan Vance’s conduct while he was serving in Italy the previous year, but that no charges were laid. The Defence Department says the investigation was launched before Vance’s appointment as defence chief in July 2015, but did not reveal the…