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Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan is also a big fan of Gen. Vance, often deferring to the general’s viewpoint. Sajjan told the Canadian Press news service in December that “Canada has been very fortunate to have somebody like Gen. Vance in this role at a very important time.”

“I’m very happy with the service that Gen. Vance has given,” Sajjan explained. “There’s only one four-star general in our Canadian Armed Forces. You don’t get there easily and every single one brings a unique experience. And Gen. Vance has brought very important experience during a very important time.”

Others take a less generous view. They see a CDS who failed to stand up for his second-in-command, Vice Admiral Mark Norman, after the RCMP made unproven allegations about the admiral’s alleged involvement in pushing forward the Asterix refueling ship. The case against Norman collapsed last year. Vance recently told the CBC he had no regrets in his role in the Norman case and his suspension of his fellow officer.

Vance also took heat for last year’s Kandahar cenotaph dedication fiasco where the Canadian Forces excluded families of those killed in Afghanistan from the ceremony to dedicate the memorial.

Vance was also caught up in the public relations nightmare that was the “Party Flight.” That involved Vance’s office arranging a booze-filled $337,000 VIP flight that ended up with a charge of sexual assault against one of the VIPs. A Canadian Forces investigation determined that the military flight crew felt they had no choice but to endure the boorish behaviour as the individuals were Vance’s guests. Vance accepted responsibility that the trip “lost focus” of the rules but he laid blame on the aircrew, arguing they should have stopped the out-of-control VIPs even though a lieutenant general and a chief warrant officer were on board and did nothing.

And lastly there is anger in some circles that Vance didn’t push back against the Liberal government plan to acquire “interim” used fighter jets from the Australian military. The CDS instead wholeheartedly embraced that scheme.

Vance may indeed receive a high profile job once he leaves the Canadian Armed Forces. But his legacy could be that of a highly polarizing figure.

(Analysis)