Harper's OK needed to release Norman docs

[oneh2obabe]

OTTAWA - Former prime minister Stephen Harper could be dragged into the criminal case against Vice-Admiral Mark Norman, as the suspended military officer's lawyers seek access to thousands of secret government documents.

Last month, Norman's lawyers gave the court a list of records they say are needed to ensure their client receives a fair trial, even as they accused the government of having "cherry-picked" the disclosure of information.

The Opposition Conservatives subsequently picked up on the demand for more information by repeatedly calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to provide the documents, which government lawyers have said includes about 135,000 files.

But many of the records that Norman's lawyers requested — including many deemed cabinet secrets or "confidences" — were created while Harper was prime minister, and federal officials say he is the only one who can authorize their release.

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/h ... spartandhp

[rustled]

Campagnolo's research uncovered two instances where a government voluntarily released cabinet confidences for a criminal trial, both involving ministers accused of illegal activity. There have also been several inquiries where such records were released.

While such instances are rare, Campagnolo maintained the prime minister — Harper or Trudeau — should authorize the release of cabinet secrets if a judge determines they are relevant to Norman's case. Otherwise, he said, the charges should be dropped.

"If cabinet documents are relevant in the context of a criminal prosecution, they should be made available to the court and to the accused because there's a fundamental issue of liberty at stake," he said.

"It's about the innocence of an individual whose reputation may very well be destroyed or he may lose his liberty as a result of the process. In that context, the public interest requires that the documents be disclosed for the purpose of the prosecution to enable the court to find the truth."