Re: Gen. Jonathan Vance being investigated

by Cool~Way Fri 15 Oct 2021, 7:35 pm

Two weeks set aside for former top soldier Jonathan Vance's trial

Murray Brewster · CBC News · Posted: Oct 15, 2021

Gen. Jonathan Vance being investigated - Page 5 Pm-20200108

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/jonathan-vance-art-mcdonald-sexual-misconduct-1.6213183

by Callvery Fri 29 Oct 2021, 2:28 pm

Former defence chief Vance's obstruction of justice case to go to trial in May 2023

Published Friday, October 29, 2021

OTTAWA -- Former chief of the defence staff Jonathan Vance's obstruction of justice case will go to trial in May 2023.

Ten days of trial dates were set during a brief, virtual courtroom hearing this morning, three months after military police charged the former Canadian Armed Forces commander following a sexual misconduct investigation.

The case is proceeding through the civilian court system after investigators referred it there, citing what they described as "the limitations of the military justice system" in trying Canada's top military officer.

The former defence chief, who retired from the Canadian Armed Forces in April, has previously denied any wrongdoing.

The Canadian Forces National Investigation Service alleged in court documents that Vance repeatedly contacted a woman identified as "K.B." in early February and "tried to persuade her to make false statements about their past relationship" to military investigators.

Maj. Kellie Brennan told a parliamentary committee in April that she and Vance had an inappropriate relationship that started in 2001 and continued after he became chief of the defence staff in 2015.

Brennan also told the committee she had recorded Vance telling her on the phone what to tell military police, and had turned those recordings over to the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 29, 2021.

CTV News

by Caliber Wed 03 Nov 2021, 4:36 pm

Officer who golfed with Vance receives award from Governor General

Gen. Jonathan Vance recommended Vice Admiral Craig Baines for the award in 2020.

David Pugliese • Ottawa Citizen
Publishing date: Nov 03, 2021

Defence Watch

by **Spider** Mon 13 Dec 2021, 9:54 am

Sailors heaped condemnation on their commander after his golf game with Vance, documents show

Vice Adm. Craig Baines described his outing with Vance as a “public display of support” for the retired general, who has since been charged with obstruction of justice.

David Pugliese • Ottawa Citizen
Publishing date: Dec 13, 2021

Navy personnel heaped condemnation on their commander for his public display of support earlier this year for Gen. Jonathan Vance, according to newly released documents.

Shortly after Vice Adm. Craig Baines instructed sailors on the West Coast about the need for accountability and leadership, media outlets revealed the naval boss’s golf game with Vance, who at the time was under investigation following allegations of sexual misconduct.

Baines, who had accompanied Lt.-Gen. Mike Rouleau to the golf game, described his outing with Vance as a “public display of support” for the retired general, who has since been charged with obstruction of justice.

News about the golf game in Ottawa sparked outrage among sexual misconduct victims, who questioned whether Baines should remain as head of the Royal Canadian Navy.

But the vice admiral was also roundly condemned by sailors on the West Coast in a series of comments collected by the navy to gauge reaction among its personnel, according to the documents released under the Access to Information law.

“I’m going to focus on (Baines’) accountability in this email, and the message that I and my peers have received from his actions,” one navy member explained. “At its core it boils down to this: ‘Dear sailors of the Royal Canadian Navy; f–k you.’ “

”Bad optics, bad leadership,” another wrote.

Other naval personnel said there was a double standard in how senior officers were treated compared to the lower ranks. There were also complaints that it was difficult for Canadian Forces personnel to have faith in the current military leadership. “It seems like leadership look out more for each other than they do for their sailors/troops,” another added.

Military morale was being damaged by the ongoing revelations of sexual misconduct among senior officers as well as the continuing situation where personnel were being overloaded with work, some noted. Others questioned whether they wanted to remain in the Canadian Forces.

”The ongoing scandals involving the ‘old boys club’ of the senior CAF leadership have completely undermined the efforts of junior leaders as we attempt to change our culture,” one sailor wrote. “The best that can be said is that I now have many real-world examples of unethical behaviour to reference during my conversations.”

The 24 comments collected from naval personnel were sent to Gen. Wayne Eyre, the country’s top officer. One of the comments noted that Baines should be given the benefit of the doubt and another questioned why Rouleau was put in a situation where he felt he had to resign.

Baines apologized after media outlets broke the news about the golf game.

Chief Petty Officer 1st Class David Steeves, who as command chief petty officer provides advice to the navy leadership on discipline and professional development, pointed out there were those who backed Baines. “He still has the support of most senior leaders, and, trust me, this has been a huge topic of discussion,” Steeves wrote.

Positive or neutral comments came from navy personnel in Atlantic Canada. But those were collected before the golf game was revealed. They were not included in the newly released documents.

Several weeks after the golf game, Eyre decided Baines would continue as navy commander. Eyre credited Baines with having “readily admitted his error in judgment and publicly apologized.”

Some sexual misconduct victims, however, pointed out Baines only admitted making an error after his golf game was revealed.

For the last 11 months, the Canadian Forces leadership has been rocked by allegations of sexual misconduct by some of its top officers. Vance, who was one of the longest-serving chiefs of the defence staff in Canadian history, was put under police investigation in February after various allegations of misconduct were made. In July, he was charged with obstruction of justice. Vance has denied any wrongdoing.

Last month, Baines received an award from the Governor General for meritorious service and demonstrating leadership. Governor General Mary May Simon gave the award to Baines, citing his previous work in the office of the vice chief of the defence staff, when he was a rear admiral. It was Vance who last year signed the recommendation to give Baines the award.

The military’s leadership has also come under fire from those saying it’s out of touch with the rank and file.

Eyre has received significant criticism for his comments during an Oct. 25 conference, when he admonished those who were leaving the armed forces. “We need our mid-level leaders to dig deep and do this for the institution, to put service before self, not to retreat into retirement, but to advance forward and face the challenges head-on,” Eyre said.

The responses to Eyre’s claims were mostly negative. Military personnel in on-line forums pointed out that the exodus of personnel had started well before the pandemic or the sexual misconduct crisis. Poor leadership and concerns about quality of life were among the issues cited by those who had left. Others said Eyre has done nothing to hold general officers to account for the exodus.

Defence Watch

by TRZ.55 Wed 30 Mar 2022, 1:05 pm

Gen. Jonathan Vance pleads guilty to obstruction of justice

Published Wednesday, March 30, 2022

CTV News

by **SniperGod** Wed 30 Mar 2022, 4:32 pm

03.30.2022

by **Proctor** Thu 31 Mar 2022, 7:42 pm

Trudeau not commenting on whether Vance should keep Order of Military Merit after guilty plea

By Amanda Connolly . Global News
Posted March 31, 2022

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau isn’t saying whether he thinks retired Gen. Jonathan Vance should get to keep the prestigious Order of Military Merit after pleading guilty to obstruction of justice.

“Obviously I’m not going to comment on an ongoing court case. We’ve been very, very clear that at the centre of what we need to do is support the men and women of the Canadian military,” Trudeau said when asked whether he believes Vance should keep the honour.

When pressed again, Trudeau chose not to offer a response.

“I’m not going to comment on a court case,” he said.

Membership in the order is overseen by Canadian military leaders and the award carries material benefits for those deemed to have made “outstanding meritorious service and demonstrated leadership in duties of great responsibility.”

For example, members in the Order get “private VIP consultations with medical specialists” working at l’Hôpital de la Pitié Salpetrière in Paris, France, described as a “renowned university teaching hospital with specialists in many fields” and “one of Europe’s largest hospitals.”

Membership also allows members to rent vacation residences in France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Croatia, Malta and “several island nations, including in the Caribbean” at 50 per cent off.

They can also get “respite stays” at a retirement home called the Résidence de la Médaille Militaire, which is for recipients of a prestigious French military medal and is located in southern France near the Mediterranean coast.

France extends the same benefits it offers to members of a similar military honour society to members of the Order of Military Merit in gratitude for Canadian service during World War One and World War Two.

Vance pleaded guilty on Wednesday morning to one count of obstruction of justice laid against him.

The charge came after military police launched an investigation following allegations of inappropriate behaviour first published by Global News last year.

According to a spokesperson for Rideau Hall, Gov. Gen. Mary Simon could consider terminating an appointment to the order on the advice of the Order of Military Merit Advisory Council.

That council is the body that can weigh requests from the public to revoke the honour.

“The Office of the Secretary to the Governor General cannot comment on any specific revocation request,” said spokesperson Ciara Trudeau in an email to Global News.

“What remains the priority is supporting victims of sexual misconduct and listening when they share their painful experiences. We acknowledge and thank all those, within and outside of the Canadian Armed Forces, who are working to address these challenges and affect change.”

According to the Canadian Forces policy manual, the membership of that advisory council includes the most senior brass of the military — including one who went golfing with Vance while he was under military police investigation.

Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre is the chair of the council.

The other members are Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff Lt.-Gen. Frances Allen, Royal Canadian Navy Commander Vice-Adm. Craig Baines, Acting Commander of the Canadian Army Maj.-Gen. M.H. St-Louis, and Royal Canadian Air Force Commander Lt.-Gen. Al Meinzinger.

Baines initially described his decision to go golfing with Vance when the latter was under military police investigation as a “public display of support” — a description that was quickly condemned in the midst of a fierce backlash.

“To be clear, it was not a show of support for Jonathan Vance as it pertains to the ongoing investigation,” Baines said following the backlash. “My focus should have been on the victims of sexual misconduct and on the impacts on their lives. For this, I am sorry.”

One of Baines’ subordinates at the time of the golf round had made public allegations of sexual misconduct against Vance’s successor, former chief of the defence staff, Adm. Art McDonald, who has since been permanently removed from the role.

The allegations against McDonald were not deemed to be unfounded, but a charge was not laid due to a lack of evidence, said the Canadian Forces Provost Marshall last year.

The governor general also has a representative on the council, though who that is is not clear.

A military spokesperson would not say whether the council is considering a revocation of the honour.

“The Canadian Armed Forces does not comment whether or not a recipient’s honour is under review for termination as the administration of this procedure is confidential,” said Maj. Christopher Daniel.

Daniel said if a recipient’s honour is terminated, that will be published in the Canada Gazette.

“The termination of an honour is an extraordinary measure which serves to protect the credibility of the Canadian honours system,” he said.

“Grounds for termination of an order are based on evidence demonstrating that the person behaved in a way that is incompatible with the standard of behaviour expected from members of this society. This can include, but is not limited to, criminal conviction or sanction by a professional body,” he continued.

“It is important to note that the recommendation of the Advisory Council to terminate membership in an order must be based on evidence and guided by the principle of fairness and shall only be made after the Council has ascertained the facts it considers relevant.”

A petition seeking Vance’s removal from the Order of Military Merit was launched on Wednesday following Vance’s guilty plea, stating that he should be removed because his plea has “brought dishonour” on the prestigious military award.

With files from Global’s Mercedes Stephenson and Marc-Andre Cossette.

Global News

by **Stayner** Thu 31 Mar 2022, 9:08 pm

03.31.2022

by Sandman Tue 05 Apr 2022, 5:55 am

Maj. Kellie Brennan’s victim impact statement about Vance guilty plea

By Amanda Connolly . Global News
Posted April 4, 2022

Global News

by **Diesel** Wed 20 Apr 2022, 4:05 pm

Former top commander Vance acknowledges sexual relationship with subordinate in court document

Ashley Burke · CBC News · Posted: Apr 20, 2022

Gen. Jonathan Vance being investigated - Page 5 Cda-ukraine-20200324

CBC News

by Gridlock Sat 07 May 2022, 8:42 am

Former top commander accused of sexual misconduct returns prestigious military decoration

CBC News · Posted: May 06, 2022

CBC News

by **Apollo** Wed 11 May 2022, 4:53 pm

Gen. Jonathan Vance expelled from Royal Military College alumni group over guilty plea

By Amanda Connolly . Global News
Posted May 11, 2022

Global News

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