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News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ombudsman to assist Board of Inquiry into sailor’s disappearance

OTTAWA, February 14, 2005 — Military Ombudsman André Marin has agreed to provide the Board of Inquiry, which has been convened to investigate the disappearance of Leading Seaman Robert Leblanc, with lessons learned from the Ombudsman’s previous investigations.

Leading Seaman Leblanc went missing last week from the HMCS MONTRÉAL. When he failed to report for duty, an extensive search was initiated. The search has since been called off. A military Board of Inquiry will be convened to investigate the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.

“I am pleased that the Navy has been proactive and asked us to be involved in this matter,” the Ombudsman said. “We have a great deal of investigative experience that we can share with the Board of Inquiry. I am certain that this knowledge will prove very useful to its President.”

The Director General of Operations, Barbara Finlay, and the Director of the Special Ombudsman Response Team, Gareth Jones, will be conducting the briefing to the Board on Thursday afternoon in Halifax. Ms. Finlay and Mr. Jones gave a similar briefing to the Board of Inquiry probing the deadly fire aboard HMCS Chicoutimi in Faslane, Scotland, last October.

“My Office has observed in recent investigations that boards of inquiry face many pitfalls as they seek to obtain the facts about an incident,” Marin continued. “As I concluded in my recent report, When a Soldier Falls, open communication with the bereaved family and proper investigative techniques are essential in yielding credible results.”

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For more information:

Barbara Theobalds
Director, Communications and Media Relations
Office of the Ombudsman, DND/CF
Tel: (613) 992-6962

Bronwyn Cruden
A/Communications Project Manager
Office of the Ombudsman, DND/CF
Tel: (613) 995-2386

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