National

Senior officer faces military charges

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 21 Jul, 2022 10:24 AM

OTTAWA - The military police have charged a senior officer in the Canadian Armed Forces after an investigation into allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate.

The office of Canada's military police chief announced on Wednesday that Lt.-Gen. Steven Whelan is facing two counts under the National Defence Act related to "conduct to the prejudice of good order and discipline."

Whelan stepped aside from his role as head of the Canadian military's human resources last October due to an investigation by military police into "historic" allegations of sexual misconduct.

Whelan, who has previously denied wrongdoing, could not immediately be reached for comment.

Whelan took over as head of human resources after Vice-Admiral Haydn Edmundson stepped down from the role due to a police investigation.

In December, Edmundson was charged with one count of sexual assault and one count of indecent acts. His lawyer, Brian Greenspan, denied the allegations at the time.

Edmundson's trial is set for August 2023 and will be heard in the civilian court system.

Defence Minister Anita Anand said last November the Forces would start transferring cases involving criminal sexual offences to civilian police forces and courts on an interim basis.

Wednesday's statement on the charges laid against Whelan said the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service's probe did not reveal any supporting evidence for laying criminal charges, as the allegations relate to offences "specific to the military context" that would not have been investigated by civilian police.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Trudeau touts budget as bank raises interest rate

Trudeau told reporters today in the Montreal area that the recently tabled budget includes measures to help with the high cost of housing, including a tax-free savings account buyers can use to purchase a first home starting next year.

Trudeau touts budget as bank raises interest rate

Bank of Canada increases interest rate to 1 percent

The central bank hiked its policy interest rate by half a percentage point to one per cent on Wednesday. Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem said inflation is too high and is expected to stay elevated for longer than the bank previously thought.

Bank of Canada increases interest rate to 1 percent

One dead as tree topples across Vancouver road

A statement from police says it happened just after 5 p.m. Tuesday on Marine Way in southeast Vancouver. They say the victim was alone in a sedan when the tree toppled across all three westbound lanes, crushing the vehicle's passenger compartment.

One dead as tree topples across Vancouver road

Crews search water off Nanaimo, B.C., for man

Police say they were called Monday evening to a report that a woman had fallen overboard and a vessel from the Nanaimo Port Authority found her clinging to a rope tied to an anchored sailboat. But police say the man, who is believed to be the woman's 59-year-old partner, has not been seen.

Crews search water off Nanaimo, B.C., for man

Arrest made in the death of International Indian student Kartik Vasudev

The man arrested is 39 years old Richard Jonathan Edwin, who was also charged with another homicide last Saturday. He is described as a Black male who is about 5'6 to 5'7 feet tall with a medium build.

Arrest made in the death of International Indian student Kartik Vasudev

Feds signal change on skills training spending

The head of the Canadian Labour Congress expressed worries on Tuesday that labour groups could be left out of talks over a federal pledge to let workers access skills training programs before they become unemployed.