OTTAWA – The once top Canadian soldier in Afghanistan, who faces a court martial on charges of breaching personal relationships and fraternization rules, has quit the military.
Brig.-Gen. Daniel Menard’s last day is Dec. 17.
Canadian Forces spokesman Cmdr. Hubert Genest said the 26-year veteran voluntarily gave his notice on Nov. 17 and was relieved of his duties as project leader for the Military Personnel Management Capability Transformation Project shortly after.
"He now wishes to focus on his family," Genest said of the reasons given for his departure.
Genest said the decision will not affect his court martial on two counts of conduct to the prejudice of good order and discipline and four counts of obstructing justice – offences punishable by up to 10 years in prison and disgraceful dismissal from the military.
No date has been set for his trial which likely will take place in the National Capital Region.
Menard was abruptly pulled from Kandahar in May where he served as taskforce commander after allegedly engaging in sexual activity in-theatre with a female subordinate, Bianka Langlois.
He was subsequently reassigned to a desk job in Ottawa.
Langlois was subject to a less serious summary trial on Sept. 28 at Canadian Forces Base Valcartier, where she was found guilty of one count of conduct to the prejudice of good order and discipline.
She received a reprimand and a $700 fine.
Genest would not comment on the status of Menard’s relationship with his wife who is reportedly also in the military.
According to his military biography, Menard joined the Canadian Forces in 1984 and was initially posted to 3rd Battalion, Royal 22e Regiment as a platoon commander.
He has served in Bosnia and Haiti and was deployed to Afghanistan in November 2009 as commander of Joint Task Force Afghanistan and Task Force Kandahar.
Besides the fraternization charges, he was also subject to a court martial for accidentally discharging his C8 rifle last March and firing two rounds while preparing to board a helicopter with Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Walt Natynczyk at Kandahar Airfield.
He pleaded guilty to the charge and was fined $3,500.
It was the only blemish on his record at the time.
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