OTTAWA—Vice-Admiral Mark Norman won’t resume his career with the Canadian Armed Forces after a criminal prosecution against him was abandoned last month.The Department of National Defence announced Wednesday that discussions between Norman’s legal team and government lawyers, assigned by Warren Winkler, former chief justice of the Ontario Court of Appeal, resulted in a “mutually acceptable” agreement.“Vice-Admiral Norman remains committed to the Navy, the Canadian Armed Forces and their mission. However, after consulting with his family, his chain of command, and his counsel, VAdm Norman has decided to retire from the Canadian Armed Forces,” the defence department announced in a statement.“Both parties believe that this resolution will return focus to the critical work of the Canadian Forces, which is the protection of all Canadians,” the department said.“The Government of Canada thanks VAdm Norman for his 38 years of dedicated service, and wishes him well in all of his future endeavours.”Details of the agreement were being kept confidential.Norman, a veteran naval officer, had risen to the position of vice chief of defence staff — Canada’s second most senior military post — when he was abruptly removed in January, 2017 with little explanation.It would more than a year before Norman was charged with a single count of breach of trust for allegedly leaking confidential details of a cabinet discussion about a supply ship contract.After protracted pretrial proceedings, the Crown abandoned its case against Norman In the wake of that decision, Norman said that he looked forward to his “immediate reinstatement and return to serving Canada.” At that time, Gen. Jonathan Vance, the chief of defence staff, said he would talk to Norman about “his return to regular duty at the earliest opportunity.“We have missed Vice-Admiral Norman a great deal and I look forward to w ...
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