Statement from the Chief of the Defence Staff 

May 8, 2019 – Ottawa – National Defence

General Jonathan Vance, the Chief of the Defence Staff, made the following statement:

“On Wednesday, 8 May, the Public Prosecution Service of Canada stayed the proceedings against Vice-Admiral Mark Norman.

“This stay eliminates the conditions that caused me to relieve Vice-Admiral Norman from his military duties in January of 2017– in accordance with the Queen’s Regulations and Orders section 101.09.

“As we know, the RCMP conducted and completed its investigation, charges were laid, and the proceedings have now been stayed. In this new context, the Queen’s Regulations and Orders specifically state: “[t]he authority who relieves an officer or non-commissioned member from the performance of military duty shall order that the member return to duty when the circumstances giving rise to the decision to relieve the member from the performance of military duty are no longer present….”

“In that context, Vice-Admiral Norman and I will be discussing his return to regular duty at the earliest opportunity.

“This decision ends court proceedings that have been a long and difficult process for Vice-Admiral Norman, his family and for the Canadian Armed Forces.

“We have missed Vice-Admiral Norman a great deal and I look forward to welcoming him back to work as soon as possible.”

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