DATELINE: The Star.com 2012-01-18
Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government isn’t known for its openness at the best of times. So, inevitably, it has dropped a leaden veil of secrecy around allegations that a Canadian naval intelligence officer has been passing sensitive information to foreigners for years.

Defence Minister Peter MacKay was predictably tight-lipped on Tuesday. He would not say how much data was allegedly leaked, what it involved, whether it seriously compromised Canadian security or to whom it was handed. He merely insisted that our allies have “full confidence” in us. Really? Says who?

Apart from wanting to know just what Canada may have leaked, and to whom, our American and other allies must be wondering who’s standing on guard over the people who handle sensitive files. Granted, such cases are rare. But how could someone have allegedly been passing information for four and a half years from some of our most secret military facilities before being caught? These aren’t issues MacKay can shrug off, or sweep under the carpet. American policy-makers, among others, will want answers.

Royal Canadian Navy Sub.-Lt. Jeffrey Paul Delisle has been charged with communicating safeguarded information to “a foreign entity,” attempting to do so and breach of trust. MacKay would not confirm or deny a report that he was passing information to the Russians. Delisle worked at Canadian Forces Base Halifax, in the HMCS Trinity naval communications and intelligence centre. It handles secret data shared among North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies on things like fleet deployments, tracking vessels, weapons, operational plans and communications codes.

The Canadian navy, while small, has a long reach. Our warships patrol our three coasts, of course. But Canada also defends its interests and projects influence by working closely with allies. Our ships are active in American and NATO joint operations that range from policing Libya’s coast to conducting Mediterranean anti-terror patrols, chasing down Caribbean drug runners and thwarting piracy off the Horn of Africa. As a result the data that pours through Trinity is a treasure trove not only of Canadian military secrets, but also those of allies who trust us to keep it secure.

The Harper government should know better than to issue breezy reassurances that our allies are unfazed. This is a blow to our credibility. There’s no point in denying it.

Like I said

Damn...that is nasty ITD. No doubt there is a lot more to this story than what meets the eye...like WHY did he do it?????

Hopefully the investigation will bring the truth to the fore and the reasons for his treason. Then and only then can he be dealt with fairly.

You are right when you talk about how your allies will be feeling right about now...wondering how much sensitive information involving them may have found it's way into the wrong hands. It will take time for the Canadian Defence Force to recover it's credibility considering this guy was able to get away with passing information for so long to a foreign Government.

If it's an consolation mate, I understand the problem and know that all are not "tarred with the same brush" and as such he is only one man, not the entire Defence Force.

Cheers, Vince

give him the "kiss of the gunners daughter" that ill learn em!!!!

He was a low level officer plus they fed his some false intel to catch him.

www.ottawacitizen.com/...story.html

Yes, the Russians are sure making a lot of noise about their embassey officers being rotated back to Russia as a regular end of tour for them.
As far as how he was caught is a subject of speculation at best. The public does not need to know the manner in which he was caught only that he was caught.

I worked with "Trinity" some years ago on domain awareness issues. I don't remember him. We will never know what he sold to his clients.

They caught him in 4 1/2 years; that in my opinion isn't bad. The U.S.A. had foreign agents passing information to our enemies for a lot longer than that before they caught them.

Grumulkin wrote:

They caught him in 4 1/2 years; that in my opinion isn't bad. The U.S.A. had foreign agents passing information to our enemies for a lot longer than that before they caught them.

Not to mention that PFC that they just caught dumping intel on Wikipedia a couple of months ago. They all should be punished to the full extent of the law and loose all citizenship rights and deported to whatever crap country they were spying for. I am definitely old testament on those people.

Elvis wrote:

give him the "kiss of the gunners daughter" that ill learn em!!!!

If only we could.

Totally correct ITD...it's not how, but the fact that he was caught...that is all that matters.

Deport him to the country he supplied information to....nah...that's too easy mate. Lock him up, give him very basic meals in his cell, no privileges, no TV, no phone, no computer, no books, no human contact, no nothing...see how long he lasts before he goes off the deep end. As far as I am concerned he deserves nothing more or less.

Cheers, Vince