Article content

Vice-Admiral Mark Norman is one of only three individuals over the past two years whose request to the Defence Department for financial help with legal bills was rejected.

The Conservative party has been pushing the military to cover Norman’s mounting legal costs as the case against the senior naval officer drags into its second year.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Mark Norman one of only three people DND refused to give help with legal bills in past two years Back to video

The department received requests from 41 military officers and public servants over the past two years to cover their legal bills and is doing so for 38.

The figures were provided by the DND to Postmedia but the details of the individual cases were not released because of the federal privacy law.

Taxpayers, however, will be financing the legal bills of some of DND staff who will be testifying at Norman’s upcoming trial, department sources confirmed.

Federal employees can apply to have their legal costs covered under a special program for public servants facing legal issues arising from the course of their employment with government. “The Treasury Board Policy on Legal Assistance and Indemnification is engaged when Crown servants are subject to legal claims or actions in circumstances where they are acting in good faith, and within the scope of their duties or employment,” said DND spokesman Dan Le Bouthillier.