Cameron Ortis, a former intelligence official with the RCMP, is set to have his appeal heard in November, marking three years since his conviction in a significant national security case. Ortis was convicted in November 2023 on all six charges against him, which included breaching Canada’s secrets act. This marked the first trial under the legislation, formerly known as the Security of Information Act.
He received a 14-year sentence, minus time already served. The appeal process involves Ortis and the Crown presenting different arguments. Ortis’s legal team contends that he did not receive a fair trial due to restrictions imposed by national security laws. To prevent the disclosure of sensitive information, Ortis and multiple witnesses testified in closed sessions, a rarity in Canada.
While the Crown had sought a 28-year sentence, they are now appealing the imposed 14-year term, asserting that the judge made an error in delivering a lenient sentence given the severity of the crimes and the offender’s culpability. The appeal hearing is scheduled for mid-November, with the public segment to be held in Toronto before moving to Ottawa for closed-door proceedings.
During the trial, the Crown argued that Ortis, in his role overseeing an RCMP unit with access to intelligence from Canada and its allies, tried to trade secrets with individuals under police surveillance. Ortis, bound by perpetual secrecy due to his previous position, refuted these claims, stating that he was engaged in a covert operation based on information obtained from a foreign agency.
Although Ortis was granted bail in April 2024 pending the appeal, he opted to remain in custody, citing concerns about the restrictive conditions of house arrest on his family. One of his lawyers explained that he declined bail to alleviate the burden on his parents.
The legal proceedings have been protracted, with both sides awaiting resolution for years.