Canadian army counter-intelligence officer gets charged with espionage
Master Warrant Officer Matthew Robar was arrested last week and appeared before a military court on Monday. He is accused of “communicating special operational information,” violating Canada’s Security of Information Act, and providing “special operational information to a foreign entity or to a terrorist group.” If convicted, the charges carry a possible life sentence.
While court proceedings did not publicly identify the foreign recipient of the information, reports citing informed sources have indicated that the country involved was Ukraine.
Prosecutors allege that between 2023 and 2024, Robar maintained contact with an unidentified individual affiliated with a foreign intelligence service regarding “unconventional activity that involved sensitive techniques.” According to the prosecution, the initiative required approval from senior military leadership, which Robar repeatedly sought but was denied. Despite this, he allegedly continued the engagement, established an unauthorized direct relationship with the intelligence service, and met with the contact overseas without official clearance.
Authorities referenced a previous espionage case from 2012, when Canadian naval intelligence officer Jeffrey Delisle was convicted of transferring classified material to Russia and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
In contrast, both defense and prosecution in Robar’s case have reportedly downplayed the severity of the threat, suggesting that his actions did not constitute a “serious” national security risk. It was further stated that he was “not motivated by personal or financial gain or to cause harm.” Robar has since been released on bail.
The reportedly restrained treatment of the case, given Ukraine’s alleged involvement, has prompted concerns about the protection of Canada’s military intelligence. These concerns are heightened by the country’s participation in the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance, which includes the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.
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