By Canadian Press

RCMP secrets case ‘dragging on,’ disappointed defence lawyer says

Dec 19, 2019 | 12:18 PM

OTTAWA — The lawyer for an RCMP intelligence official accused of violating secrecy laws expressed concern in court Tuesday about the pace of the legal proceedings.

Ian Carter, who represents the RCMP’s Cameron Jay Ortis, said the case has been “dragging on for months” while the Crown discloses evidence to the defence.

Ortis, 47, was charged in September under the Security of Information Act for allegedly revealing secrets to an unknown recipient and planning to give additional classified information to an unspecified foreign entity.

He faces seven counts under various provisions, dating from as early as Jan. 1, 2015, to Sept. 12, when he was arrested.

More than 14,000 pages, covering the police investigation through last July, have already been disclosed to the defence, Crown prosecutor John MacFarlane told the Ontario court hearing.

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Every effort is being made to complete the exercise, but more time is needed given the unusual nature of the case and the fact some of the information belongs to other parties, he said.

Ortis, who made a brief appearance by video from an Ottawa jail, is due back in court Jan. 28.

RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki told a September news conference the allegations against Ortis had left many shaken, noting that as director general of the force’s National Intelligence Co-ordination Centre, he had access to information from allies in Canada and abroad.

After the hearing Tuesday, Carter said he had hoped the latest batch of documents would constitute the bulk of the Crown’s disclosure.

“I’ve been told by the prosecutors that it is not, that we’re still waiting to receive a substantial amount of disclosure that’s not likely to come until the end of January,” he said.

“So we’re very disappointed at the pace of how this is proceeding. Obviously Mr. Ortis is in custody and we want to get the matter moving as quickly as possible.”

Carter suggested a plea from Ortis would not come soon.

“It won’t be until at least after we get all the disclosure, and have had a chance to talk to the prosecutors, narrow the issues and make a determination.”

Under the terms of bail set in October by a justice of the peace, Ortis was living with his parents in Abbotsford, B.C., had to report to police once a week and was forbidden from using any device that connects to the internet.

Ontario Superior Court Justice Marc Labrosse ruled last month that Ortis would be returned to custody as a result of a review requested by the Crown. The reasons are covered by a publication ban.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 17, 2019.

Jim Bronskill , The Canadian Press