OTTAWA -- A federal prosecutor says the disclosure of evidence to defence lawyers has "slowed significantly" in the case of Cameron Jay Ortis, an RCMP member charged with revealing secrets.
Crown lawyer John MacFarlane said during a brief Ontario Superior Court hearing Monday the pace of disclosure had dropped off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has wreaked havoc with court cases and schedules.
Ortis is accused of Security of Information Act violations, breach of trust and a computer-related offence.
The director general of the RCMP's national intelligence co-ordination centre was arrested Sept. 12 for allegedly revealing secrets to an unnamed recipient and planning to give additional classified information to an unspecified foreign entity.
MacFarlane said that despite the pandemic he had been in "regular contact" with Ortis' lawyer, Ian Carter.
Justice Robert Maranger agreed to adjourn the case until Sept. 4.
