Top Canadian police intelligence officer charged with leaking secret information

[rooster59]

Top Canadian police intelligence officer charged with leaking secret information

By David Ljunggren

 

FILE PHOTO: A Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) crest is seen on a member's uniform, at the RCMP "D" Division Headquarters in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada, July 24, 2019. REUTERS/Shannon VanRaes/File Photo

 

OTTAWA (Reuters) - A top Canadian police intelligence officer has been charged with leaking secret information, authorities said on Friday, in what could be a major security breach.

 

Cameron Ortis, a director general with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's intelligence unit, faces three charges under a little-used 2012 security of information law.

 

"It is alleged he obtained, stored and processed sensitive information ... with the intent to communicate that information with people he shouldn't be communicating to," federal prosecutor John MacFarlane told reporters outside Ottawa's court house after Ortis was charged.

 

Sources with knowledge of national security investigations described Ortis as former RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson's most elite adviser on issues related to national security. Paulson was in office from 2011-2017.

 

"Operationally, this could be very, very bad," said Stephanie Carvin, an assistant professor and security expert at Ottawa's Carleton University.

 

Canada is part of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing network with United States, Britain, New Zealand and Australia.

 

One section of the law used to charge Ortis refers to a person with security clearance who "intentionally and without authority, communicates or confirms special operational information." He also faces charges of breach of trust and misuse of a credit card.

 

The RCMP said in a statement that the alleged offences had taken place when Ortis was a member of the force, but it gave no further details and said nothing about what other nations might be involved.

 

Neither Ortis, who is in custody, nor a lawyer for him could be reached for immediate comment. The next court hearing in the case has been set for Sept. 20.

 

A brief LinkedIn profile for Ortis shows he speaks Mandarin and has both a certificate in internet systems administration and a doctorate in international relations from the University of British Columbia (UBC) in western Canada.

 

A UBC newsletter from 2006 said the title of the doctorate was "the relationship between rapid Internet diffusion and the emergence of new threats and the digitisation of traditional threats." Ortis, it added, had conducted field work interviews in East Asia.

 

The 2012 law was used to prosecute a Canadian naval officer who handed over secrets to Russia for more than four years. Sub-Lieutenant Jeffrey Delisle was jailed for 20 years in 2013 but released on parole in 2018.

 

Canadian officials told a sentencing hearing in 2013 that allies had threatened to withhold intelligence from Canada unless it tightened security procedures.

 

"I can assure you the authorities are taking this extremely seriously but you might understand I have no comment to make," Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters.

 

Andrew Scheer, whose opposition Conservative Party is vying to defeat Trudeau in an Oct. 21 election, said the case was extremely concerning and "a reminder of the threats we face from foreign actors."

 

(Additional reporting by Mark Hosenball in Washington; Editing by Tom Brown)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-09-14

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[metisdead]

An off topic post has been removed. 

[blazes]

Ah, fluent in Mandarin.   Say no more.....

[from the home of CC]

Canada needs to bring back the noose..

[Benmart]

1 hour ago, from the home of CC said:

Canada needs to bring back the noose..

I prefer to let Canadians decide that matter.

[from the home of CC]

13 minutes ago, Benmart said:

I prefer to let Canadians decide that matter.

As a Canadian I would prefer that people that we entrust with law enforcement be held at a higher standard. If proven in a courtroom that he aided others to the detriment of all Canadians (for whatever reason) then he should be hung till he's 7 inches taller. Unfortunately we abolished the death penalty for traitors.

[IAMHERE]

So it would seem this guy was letting out secrets from all 5 of the associated nations, not just Canadian secrets.

[Burma Bill]

I wonder if a certain well known Chinese telecommunications company was involved - its CFO was arrested in Canada in December 2018!

[metisdead]

An off topic trolling post has been removed, the reply was removed as well. 

[Inn Between]

That's just what young Trudeau needs to kick off his re-election campaign -- another scandal. It seems he was given control with far to little experience, both in politics and life.

 

He acted as Trump's minion by arresting the Huawei company heir and has thereby jeopardized trade relations with China, one of Canada's most important trade partners. Trump has continued to treat him with no respect and has hard-balled NAFTA negotiations, even with Trudeau obliging him. The Canadian currency is in the dump, and Trudeau has no solid plans for Canada's economic growth.

 

His father, Pierre, who ran the country with success and dignity must be rolling in his grave at the dismal performance of his son, but I don't blame young Justin. He was chosen far to early to do the job -- just too naive. Had he been the same age his father was when entering the PM position, he'd likely have more backbone and some solidly informed ideas. 

 

As for the topic at hand, we don't have much information yet, and we likely won't get much as it pertains to maters of security, so I'll refrain from commenting on it with such a vague report. 

[Dumbastheycome]

2 hours ago, Inn Between said:

That's just what young Trudeau needs to kick off his re-election campaign -- another scandal. It seems he was given control with far to little experience, both in politics and life.

 

He acted as Trump's minion by arresting the Huawei company heir and has thereby jeopardized trade relations with China, one of Canada's most important trade partners. Trump has continued to treat him with no respect and has hard-balled NAFTA negotiations, even with Trudeau obliging him. The Canadian currency is in the dump, and Trudeau has no solid plans for Canada's economic growth.

 

His father, Pierre, who ran the country with success and dignity must be rolling in his grave at the dismal performance of his son, but I don't blame young Justin. He was chosen far to early to do the job -- just too naive. Had he been the same age his father was when entering the PM position, he'd likely have more backbone and some solidly informed ideas. 

 

As for the topic at hand, we don't have much information yet, and we likely won't get much as it pertains to maters of security, so I'll refrain from commenting on it with such a vague report. 

"

As for the topic at hand, we don't have much information yet".  Exactly that.  Globally  so  much is  being  propended as of  political significance without such.  Avoid  the  distraction ! There is more of real significance. 

 

[pegman]

4 hours ago, Inn Between said:

That's just what young Trudeau needs to kick off his re-election campaign -- another scandal. It seems he was given control with far to little experience, both in politics and life.

 

He acted as Trump's minion by arresting the Huawei company heir and has thereby jeopardized trade relations with China, one of Canada's most important trade partners. Trump has continued to treat him with no respect and has hard-balled NAFTA negotiations, even with Trudeau obliging him. The Canadian currency is in the dump, and Trudeau has no solid plans for Canada's economic growth.

 

His father, Pierre, who ran the country with success and dignity must be rolling in his grave at the dismal performance of his son, but I don't blame young Justin. He was chosen far to early to do the job -- just too naive. Had he been the same age his father was when entering the PM position, he'd likely have more backbone and some solidly informed ideas. 

 

As for the topic at hand, we don't have much information yet, and we likely won't get much as it pertains to maters of security, so I'll refrain from commenting on it with such a vague report. 

 A bit too early to start laying blame with so little information being made public. What we do know from the court documents so far is that whatever this guy did it started while Harper was Prime Minister.  According to newspaper reports this guy's mentor at the RCMP was  commissioner Paulson who was also appointed by Harper.  It would seem to me, with the available information, that Trudeau can take credit for stopping whatever was going on and Harper can be condemn for it starting while he was head of government. 

[Inn Between]

2 minutes ago, pegman said:

 A bit too early to start laying blame with so little information being made public. What we do know from the court documents so far is that whatever this guy did it started while Harper was Prime Minister.  According to newspaper reports this guy's mentor at the RCMP was  commissioner Paulson who was also appointed by Harper.  It would seem to me, with the available information, that Trudeau can take credit for stopping whatever was going on and Harper can be condemn for it starting while he was head of government. 

True enough, but people will only see this as another Trudeau screw up. 

[Tug]

Good to see the Mounties got their man now off to the dungeon with him!

[metisdead]

An off topic baiting post has been removed.

 

An off topic post about NAFTA and Canada's economic growth has been removed. 

 

As there isn't any specific information related to the matters of the leaking of secret information, let's refrain from making unsubstantiated allegations on this matter. 

[bristolboy]

9 hours ago, Inn Between said:

True enough, but people will only see this as another Trudeau screw up. 

That's a convenient assumption and not an unsurprising one coming from someone who clearly disapproves of Trudeau.

[pegman]

  Yes, it is true that I Iay blame where it belongs when necessary. Being a one trick pony it's obvious what your referring to.

[Morch]

2 minutes ago, pegman said:

You mean a topic like the Zionists running  concentration camps?  Yes, it is true that I Iay blame where it belongs. 

 

I don't recall there being a topic like that, but it's about the sort of comment you're apt to make. While at the same time, advising others to be informed before posting. Thanks for making my point there.

[CharlieH]

Reported troll remark removed.