Mark Norman (Canadian naval officer)

Vice-Admiral (Ret'd) Mark A. G. Norman, CMM, CD (born 1963 or 1964) is a retired Royal Canadian Navy officer. He took up the post of Vice Chief of the Defence Staff of Canada on August 5, 2016. He was temporarily relieved of the post on January 16, 2017, and was permanently removed on June 27, 2018,[2][3] accused of having released sensitive government information to affect a procurement of naval supply ships, which potentially constituted a breach of trust. In 2019, charges against him were dropped by the Crown because there was "no reasonable prospect of conviction." Norman subsequently received an "all-party" apology from the House of Commons,[4] a settlement of claims,[5] and full reimbursement of legal fees incurred by him.[6]

Mark Norman
Norman in 2015
Born1963 or 1964 (age 59–60)[1]
AllegianceCanada
Service/branchRoyal Canadian Navy[lower-alpha 1]
Years of service1980–2019
Rank Vice-Admiral
Commands heldHMCS St. John's
Maritime Forces Atlantic
AwardsCommander of the Order of Military Merit
Canadian Forces Decoration
U.S. Legion of Merit (Commander)

Early life

Norman was raised in Kingston, Ontario, the son of Major-General Francis John Norman, a former Commandant of the Royal Military College of Canada (1982–1985).[7]

Educated at Queen's University, Norman joined the Naval Reserve in 1980 as a diesel mechanic with HMCS Cataraqui before transferring to the regular force in 1985 as a sub-lieutenant.[8] He then joined the frigate HMCS Halifax before advancing to the post of executive officer of the destroyer HMCS Iroquois. He was then promoted to commanding officer of the frigate HMCS St. John's.[8]

Norman was assigned to a series of posts ashore. He went on to be Assistant Chief of Transformation in 2005, Director General Strategy, Chief Force Development in 2007 and Commander, Canadian Fleet – Atlantic in 2009.[9] He then became Director General of Maritime Force Development in 2010, and Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff and Deputy Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy in June 2011, before becoming Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy and Chief of the Naval Staff in June 2013.[10]

In January 2016, it was announced that he was to be appointed Vice Chief of the Defence Staff of the Canadian Armed Forces, assuming the position on August 5.[11] His successor as Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy was Rear-Admiral Ron Lloyd.[12]

Removal from command

On January 13, 2017, Norman was temporarily relieved of his post as Vice Chief of Defence Staff by General Jonathan Vance, Chief of the Defence Staff.[13][14] The removal was connected with an investigation into whether Norman had leaked sensitive documents relating to the procurement of an interim supply ship for the Royal Canadian Navy. Norman was replaced on a temporary basis by Vice-Admiral Ron Lloyd, the commander of the Navy.[15]

On March 9, 2018, Norman was charged with one count of breach of trust by a public officer.[16] He was permanently removed from his post on June 27, 2018.[17] Even before Norman was formally charged, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau twice publicly predicted that the case would end up in court.[18]

On May 8, 2019, Crown prosecutors stayed the charges against Vice-Admiral Norman. Crown prosecutor Barbara Mercier informed the presiding judge that there was "no reasonable prospect of conviction", adding that, while Norman's actions had been inappropriate, "inappropriate doesn’t mean criminal".[19][20]

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan said that the Federal government would pay the legal fees Norman had incurred.[6]

Apology, retirement and settlement

The House of Commons issued an "all-party" apology to Norman on May 14, 2019.[4][21]

News reports in late June 2019 stated that the Department of National Defence and Norman had concluded "a mutually acceptable agreement ... for which details will remain confidential". Norman refused to discuss the terms of the settlement and his retirement,[5] although he had said in May 2019 that he had "an important story to tell that Canadians will want and need to hear". Whether a confidentially agreement had been signed was also to remain confidential.[22] Other reports indicated that Norman has started making arrangements to reimburse donors who had contributed to his defence fund.[23]

Norman's GoFundMe page had gathered from 3,547 people a total of $442,810. Justin Trudeau "twice publicly mused" that Norman "would see the inside of a courtroom", and this was all "before any criminal charge was laid" against him. As one pundit opined, the stakes were high: the "federal government’s mission [was] to destroy not only your exemplary military career, but also to ruin you financially and taint the remainder of your life with a criminal record."[24] Norman's lawyers had said that then-President of the Treasury Board, Scott Brison, who resigned from political life in February 2019, had "tried to have the (Davie Shipbuilding) deal killed on behalf of the Irving family – who operate rival Irving Shipbuilding."[25]

It was disclosed in January 2020 in response to a written question by the Member of Parliament Erin O'Toole that the failed prosecution of Norman had cost the taxpayer $1.4 million.[25]

Awards and decorations

Norman's personal awards and decorations included the following:



RibbonDescriptionNotes
Order of Military Merit (CMM)
  • Appointed Commander (CMM) on 17 October 2012[26]
Special Service Medal
  • with NATO-OTAN Clasp
Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal
NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia
  • with FORMER YUGOSLAVIA clasp
Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal
  • Decoration awarded in 2012[27]
  • Canadian version
Canadian Forces Decoration (CD)
  • with two Clasp for 32 years of services
Commander of the Legion of Merit
  • Decoration awarded on 21 April 2015 [28]
  • Commander level
  • United States United States award

Command Commendation

References
  1. Blatchford, Christie (May 8, 2019). "The state is a powerful foe, and it almost crushed Mark Norman". National Post. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  2. Connolly, Amanda (May 8, 2019). "Vice Admiral Mark Norman vindicated as Crown stays breach of trust charge against him". Global News. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  3. Aiello, Rachel (May 8, 2019). "Crown stays breach of trust charge against suspended Vice-Admiral Mark Norman". CTV News. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  4. "House of Commons offers all-party apology to Vice Adm. Mark Norman over failed prosecution". Global News. The Canadian Press. May 14, 2019. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  5. "Vice-Admiral Mark Norman reaches settlement with government, announces retirement". CBC News. June 26, 2019. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
  6. "Defence minister says taxpayers will foot Mark Norman's legal bill". 1130 News. The Canadian Press. May 7, 2019. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  7. Lipscombe, Kristen. "Down to the sea in ships, m'lads . . . | Queen's Gazette | Queen's University". Queensu.ca. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  8. "Commander of the RCN". Royal Canadian Navy. Archived from the original on August 3, 2013. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  9. Lipscombe, Kristen (2009). "Down to the sea in ships, m'lads . . ". Queen's Alumni Review. Archived from the original on December 23, 2013. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  10. "Vice Admiral Mark Norman assumes command of the Royal Canadian Navy". Daily Observer. June 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-12-23. Retrieved 2013-09-07.
  11. "Vice-Admiral Mark Norman becomes Canada's new Vice Chief of the Defence Staff" (Press release). Government of Canada. August 5, 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  12. Tasker, John Paul (January 19, 2016). "Top ranks of Canadian Forces get shake-up with new army, navy commanders". CBC News. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  13. Campion-Smith, Bruce (January 16, 2017). "Top Canadian military commander Mark Norman relieved of post". The Toronto Star. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  14. Brewster, Murray (January 16, 2017). "Mark Norman, outspoken military vice-chief, relieved of duty without explanation". CBC News. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  15. Fife, Robert; Chase, Steven (January 16, 2017). "RCMP investigation into alleged leaks prompts Canadian Forces vice-chief's removal". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  16. Chase, Steven (June 27, 2018). "Vice-Admiral Mark Norman removed as vice-chief of defence staff, three months after charges laid". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  17. Berthiaume, Lee (June 27, 2018). "Suspended Vice-Admiral Norman to be removed as military's second-in-command". CBC News. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  18. "Trudeau says case against vice-admiral accused of leaking secrets will 'inevitably' go to court". CBC News. The Canadian Press. February 2, 2018. Retrieved May 5, 2019.
  19. MacCharles, Tonda; Campion-Smith, Bruce (May 8, 2019). "Crown drops breach-of-trust case against Vice-Admiral Mark Norman". The Star (Toronto). Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  20. Brewster, Murray (May 7, 2019). "Prosecutors to drop criminal case of breach of trust against Vice-Admiral Mark Norman". CBC News. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  21. Brewster, Murray (May 14, 2019). "Commons apologizes to Mark Norman as opposition MPs press for committee probe". CBC News. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  22. "National Defence won't disclose whether Mark Norman signed a non-disclosure deal". CBC News. June 29, 2019. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
  23. "Donors that helped pay Mark Norman's legal bills will get money back after government agrees to cover costs". National Post. June 27, 2019. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
  24. Green, Roy (28 June 2020). "The sordid assault on Vice-Admiral Mark Norman ends with four paragraphs". Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
  25. Pinkerton, Charlie (28 January 2020). "Failed prosecution of vice-admiral Mark Norman cost government more than $1.4 million". iPolitics.
  26. "Order of Military Merit List". The Governor General of Canada. 11 June 2018.
  27. "The Diamond Jubilee Medal List". The Governor General of Canada. 11 June 2018.
  28. "Royal Canadian Navy Vice Adm. Mark Norman receives Legion of Merit". The Defense Visual Information Distribution Service.
  1. Known as Canadian Forces Maritime Command until 2011
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