Guilty of no Charge

Vice-Admiral Mark Norman has been found guilty.  So say a group of bureaucrats in DND and the Justice Department.  What he has been found guilty of, no one knows, least of all VADM Norman. The worst part of this decision is that the presumption of innocence doesn’t seem to apply among government bureaucrats.  It all reminds me about the old tale of military summary justice, “March in the guilty bastard.”  Oh there have been rumours and speculation, most revolving around a leak of a government cabinet decision to delay a much needed Navy project.  It proved embarrassing to the government and so the wrath of God had to be brought down on someone.

VADM Norman was suspended from his job of Vice Chief of the Defence Staff (VCDS), his home searched and lots of material was taken by the RCMP, most of which had nothing to do with his professional life.  Of course lots of people in Canada like fishing so why not the RCMP.  This all happened over a year ago.  The Prime Minister promised that this would end up in court.  But of course for that to happen, there have to be charges administered either through the Criminal Code or a military charge resulting in a Court Martial.  So far, presumably the RCMP and perhaps the Justice Department have poured through the effects that were taken from his home and office, interviewed thirty witnesses and… what?  What they haven’t done is interview VADM Norman nor lay any charges.  After a year, no charges!

If this was to happen to an ordinary citizen, the hue and cry would be enormous.  The citizen, with his lawyer by his side, would be on every television channel demanding justice.  But Mark Norman is still officially the VCDS and his loyalty lies with his beloved Navy and the Canadian Forces.  Any statement by him would probably be denounced by the government and misconstrued by the press.  And after all, what could he say?  “I don’t know what I’m alleged to have done.”

My opinion on this matter is that the government has realized that they really have no case against the Admiral.  After all, even the RCMP has said that there may have been someone else in government that could have leaked the information, and lobbyists have said the decision was common knowledge the day after it was made.  The government’s problem is that it cannot figure out how to get out of the mess. If it just drops the whole matter and hopes it will all go away, there will be many embarrassing questions asked.  If it makes a statement such as, “There was no possibility of a successful verdict,” there will always be those who will say, “Where there is smoke there must be fire” thus leaving a stain on VADM Norman’s name.  Some have said the government is hoping the cost of his lawyers will force Norman to resign, thus ending the drama.  But that scenario would also leave Mark Norman free to demand his day in court, probably via a significant law suit.  After all, if Mike Duffy can do it, why not Mark Norman. 

 

The only decent thing to do is for the government to state unequivocally that there is no case against the Admiral and to offer a sincere apology.  He should be reinstated to his previous military position and his legal bills should be covered.  But I am not holding my breath that this will happen any time soon.  No interview, no charges, no day in court, no justice.