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Canadians need – and deserve – to know why the second-highest-ranking member of Canada’s military was abruptly (if “temporarily”) removed from his post last week.

A Jan. 13 letter from Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Jonathan Vance provided no detail beyond brief confirmation that vice chief of defence staff Mark Norman had been bounced out “for the time being,” according to a spokesman. This, of course, has immediately led to unverified rumours and off-the-record discussions as to why. Official Ottawa, and the military, are abuzz.

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Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan isn’t saying anything about it other than supporting Vance in the decision.

But the defence of Canada is the paramount task of our government. So if something is suspected of going awry, Canadians need to know.

Grave problems may have sparked this unusual move. Or, it may turn out to be about something relatively minor or personal, but which still moved the military to act with an abundance of caution.