Article content

ANALYSIS

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said he supports the decision to remove Vice-Admiral Mark Norman, who until earlier this year held the second-highest ranking job in the Canadian military, from his post.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or David Pugliese: Why a trial for Vice-Admiral Mark Norman could prove embarrassing to the Liberals Back to video

“This is an important matter that is obviously under investigation, and will likely end up before the courts, so I won’t make any further comments at this time,” Trudeau told reporters on April 6.

In an affadavit unsealed this week, the RCMP allege Norman leaked sensitive information to industry contacts in an attempt to pressure the government. Neither Norman nor anybody else has yet been charged in the matter. But whether Trudeau’s claim about future charges reflected inside knowledge of the RCMP’s investigation or was simply the prime minister misspeaking, the Liberal government might rue the day if Norman is ever brought to court.

Any such trial would be expected to provide high drama, and a window into the government’s problem-plagued shipbuilding program and allegations the multi-billion dollar scheme has been dogged by political interference.