Ex-RCMP official accused of leaking secrets acted with ‘authority,’ defence to argue
Global News
Cameron Ortis, the former civilian RCMP official charged with leaking intelligence, is expected to argue he had “authority” to disclose information.
An ex-RCMP intelligence official accused of leaking secrets is expected to argue he had the authority to disclose the sensitive information.
The trial of Cameron Ortis, the former director-general of the RCMP’s National Intelligence Coordination Centre (NICC), is scheduled to begin today and run over the next two months.
Ortis’s arrest three years ago sent shockwaves through the Canadian intelligence community. As a senior official in the RCMP’s intelligence unit, Ortis had access to some of the country’s most sensitive criminal intelligence – from Canadian agencies and from close allies.
The 51-year old is facing four counts of violating the Security of Intelligence Act. In his capacity, he was known as a person “permanently bound to secrecy” at the time of the alleged offences in 2015. Ortis is also facing a charge of breach of trust and the unauthorized use of a computer.
The charges have not yet been proven in court, and few details about the allegations against Ortis can be publicly reported at this time.
Jon Doody, a lawyer on Ortis’ defence team, said in an interview they intend to argue that the ex-RCMP analyst was authorized to share the information he’s alleged to have leaked.
“That’s really going to be the crux of the case, both for the Crown and the defence. The Crown is going to prove that he didn’t have authority (to release the information), and we’re going to demonstrate he did,” Doody told Global News.
If convicted by a jury, Ortis would face significant jail time. But aside from Ortis’ fate, the information disclosed over the expected eight-week trial will be of keen interest to both Canadian national security watchers, as well as the country’s international allies, which routinely share sensitive information with Canadian law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running Game
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing Game
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic Game
Around 5:05 p.m., the Toronto Transit Commission announced there would be no service on Line 1: Yonge-University between College and St George stations because of a fire.
Ottawa is countersuing a contractor for $60M over a failed bridge repair in Kingston, calling the work “worthless.” The firm had earlier sued the federal government for $8M.
The case against Husam Taha Ali Al-Sewaiee was dropped after police received new information.
At a Toronto Transit Commission meeting Thursday, outgoing interim CEO Greg Percy said it would be 'a reach' to open the new transit line by September.
The Canada Strong Pass has expanded to include dozens of galleries and museums operated by some provinces and territories until September 2.
Under new rules in effect Thursday, restaurants can charge up to $10 for each no-show.
Maurene Comey was a veteran lawyer in the Southern District of New York, long considered the most elite of the Justice Department’s prosecution offices.
Premier Scott Moe is scheduled to speak from Saskatoon on Thursday and call on other Canadian premiers to join the New West Partnership Trade Agreement.
Police said officers responded to calls for a stabbing in a commercial parking lot at Parkway Forest Drive and Sheppard Avenue East, near Don Mills Road in North York.
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. says dropping interprovincial trade barriers would push the total number of annual housing starts close to 280,000 over time.
A Belleville comedian is hoping to set the world record for most garage sales in one day this weekend. The money raised will support various local organizations.
The report forecasts Canada's defence spending commitments will raise the country's real gross domestic product up to 0.9 per cent annually this year.
Violent home invasions are surging across the GTA as armed break-ins and youth gangs have surged, spiking demand for more security measures.