By Canadian Press

Commons committee expands probe to include allegations against current defence chief

Mar 8, 2021 | 12:31 PM

OTTAWA — Members of the House of Commons defence committee have agreed to invite several senior Liberal government officials to testify as part an expanded probe into allegations of misconduct against the military’s top brass.

The committee members will also ask Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan back to clarify what opposition members say are contradictions between his testimony and that of former military ombudsman Gary Walbourne.

Walbourne told the committee last week he first raised an allegation of sexual misconduct against then-chief of the defence staff Gen. Jonathan Vance to the minister in March 2018.

Committee members also want to hear from Lt.-Cmdr. Raymond Trotter, who Global News says first reported an allegation of misconduct against current defence chief Admiral Art McDonald last month.

Global says Trotter has since received several anonymous threats from people claiming to be senior members of the military and federal government.

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Military police are now investigating Vance, who has denied any wrongdoing, and McDonald, who has temporarily stepped aside as commander of the Canadian Armed Forces.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 8, 2021.

The Canadian Press