The general facing serious charges stemming from an alleged affair with a subordinate in the Afghan theatre of war is quitting the Canadian Forces.
Brigadier-General Daniel Ménard's last day with the military will be Dec. 17, the Forces said.
He must still face a military court-martial trial on charges of inappropriate conduct and obstruction of justice related to allegations he had a prolonged affair in the theatre of war.
Brig.-Gen. Ménard, who until late May was Canada's top commander in Afghanistan, is alleged to have carried on sexual relations with a non-commissioned officer, Master Corporal Bianka Langlois, at Canada's Kandahar Air Field base. MCpl. Langlois has already been found guilty of "conduct to the prejudice of good order and discipline," fined $700 and reprimanded.
Canadian Forces Commander Hubert Genest said Brig.-Gen. Ménard's departure was a personal decision.
The soldier gave 30 days' notice on Nov. 17. "It does not affect the course of the court-martial. He wants to focus on his familiy," Cdr. Genest said.
A charge sheet released by the Forces earlier this week alleges sexual relations between the general and master corporal spanned five and a half months: from Nov. 15, 2009, to April 27, 2010.
The general was married to someone else at the time of the alleged affair, but the military's anti-fraternization policies treat all types of romantic entanglements equally. The Forces ban all forms of sexual relations in the field, even between couples, to prevent an erosion of discipline and cohesion among soldiers fighting a war.
The Canadian Forces also alleged this week that Brig.-Gen. Ménard tried to thwart an investigation by asking MCpl. Langlois twice to withdraw a statement she'd made admitting to the relations. A charge sheet released by the military says he made the request two times in late May, 2010 – around the time he was relieved of duty and a formal investigation began.
"He, on or about 28 May 2010 at Kandahar Airfield, did willfully attempt to obstruct the course of justice relating to an investigation of his conduct by requesting ... Master Corporal Langlois, B., to withdraw her statement that she had engaged in sexual activity in theatre with him," the charge sheet reads.
The military also alleges the general tried to get MCpl. Langlois to destroy potential evidence. It says in the charge sheet that Brig.-Gen. Ménard requested on May 28, 2010, that she "delete e-mails exchanged between the two." A day later, the charge sheet alleges, he approached a major in the Forces and requested the officer ask MCpl. Langlois to erase e-mails the two had sent each other.
The general faces four counts of obstructing justice contrary to the Criminal Code. Each charge carries a maximum of 10 years in prison as a penalty.
Retired colonel Michel Drapeau, an expert in military law, said this week he's never heard of such a senior officer being charged with an alleged cover-up like this before.
"He is in a world of hurt if they can prove any of that," Mr. Drapeau said Tuesday.
He said the anti-fraternization directive is supposed to ensure that nobody in theatre feels one soldier is being treated better than another because of romantic relationships.
Mr. Drapeau said he is a surprised the military is treating Brig.-Gen. Ménard so harshly because the officer has already suffered the disgrace of being relieved of command. His treatment, the military law expert said, will be noticed worldwide.