The Canadian Forces member accused of espionage was in long dispute with military over disciplinary action. Master Warrant Officer Matthew Shawn Robar, who worked in the Forces’ intelligence-gathering unit, was arrested in early December after a long-standing feud with the military. This feud dates back to October 2024 and has seen a series of events ranging from a formal grievance to eventual charges related to passing secrets to a foreign entity.
Robar’s Dispute with the Military
Robar’s dispute with the military began in October 2024 when he was taken into custody for 24 hours and then released without charges but subject to certain conditions. The following day, he was informed about the types of offences he was suspected of committing, including breach of trust, disobeying a lawful command, and improper firearms storage. However, search warrants executed on his house listed a different set of alleged offences, including the espionage charges ultimately laid in December.
The Grievance and Subsequent Arrest
In the months prior to his arrest, Robar had filed a formal grievance after receiving what the military calls a “recorded warning” for conduct it deemed below standard. The Forces intelligence operator was arrested on Dec. 10 and placed in custody at the military police detachment in Petawawa, Ontario. He is currently awaiting to appear before a military judge, who will decide whether he remains in jail or is released with conditions.
Disciplinary Investigation and Suspension
Robar was informed in April 2025 that he would receive a “recorded warning” for deficient conduct. The following month, he was told his security clearance was suspended. However, Robar was kept in the dark about the specific allegations related to the disciplinary investigation, with a superior officer simply stating “I think you know what we’re talking about.”
Formal Grievance Filed by Robar
In July 2025, Robar filed a grievance against the recorded warning. He claimed the military had improperly used administrative action to deal with his case instead of the Forces’ Code of Service Discipline process, which he believed impaired his ability to fend off the allegations levelled against him. In the five months after the grievance was filed, the matter escalated into the charges filed against him in December.
Espionage Charges
Robar is now facing charges of “communicating special operational information” and “breach of trust in respect of safeguarded information” under the Foreign Interference and Security of Information Act. The first charge is an indictable offence liable to imprisonment for life. These charges stem from a joint operation between the Canadian Forces Military Police and the RCMP probing into “foreign interference and security of information.”
Implications for National Security
This case emerges at a time of heightened concerns about foreign interference from countries such as Russia, China, Iran, and India. The accusations could invite scrutiny of how effectively Canada safeguards not only its own military secrets, but those of allies shared with Canada through the Five Eyes network, which includes the United States, Britain, Australia, and New Zealand. Jody Thomas, a former deputy minister of national defence who later served as national security and intelligence adviser to the prime minister, has said Canada is likely informing allies now of the extent of the breach, and of the damage assessment and efforts to mitigate any damage.
