OTTAWA — Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin has retired from the Canadian Armed Forces, The Canadian Press has learned.

A source close to Fortin, who spoke on the condition that they not be named because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the matter, says a small gathering to mark his departure was held on Friday at the Canadian Army Officers’ Mess in Ottawa.

Fortin was removed as head of Canada’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout campaign in May 2021 while he was under investigation for an allegation dating back to 1988, when he was at military college.

He was charged with one count of sexual assault in August 2021 and was acquitted last December after a civilian trial in Quebec Superior Court.

The Canadian Armed Forces cleared him in an internal review process the next month, but he was not reassigned to a new posting and his terms of service were up last July.

Fortin recently settled his lawsuit against the military and top government officials for an undisclosed amount, and in response to questions today about his retirement, the Defence Department says it has nothing to add.

Neither Fortin nor his civil lawyer responded to requests for comment on Tuesday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 31, 2023.

The Canadian Press