The Decibel Canadian military officer charged with leaking government secrets
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Dec 19, 2025 Steven Chase, a senior parliamentary reporter at The Globe and Mail, dives deep into the case of Matthew Robar, a Canadian military officer charged with espionage. He discusses Robar's background, his alleged leaks of sensitive information to Ukraine, and the legal implications under Canadian law. Chase explores motivations behind the actions, the potential risk to Canada's security, and the resulting strain on Canada-Ukraine relations. He also highlights concerns about oversight in military intelligence and outlines the next steps in the legal process.
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Senior Insider With Broad Access
- Matthew Robar is a senior counterintelligence operator with two decades in the Canadian Armed Forces and top-secret clearance.
- His rank and role gave him broad access to classified material and trust within Canadian Forces Intelligence Command.
Espionage Charges Carry Severe Penalties
- Robar faces charges under the Foreign Interference and Security of Information Act, including communicating operational information to a foreign entity.
- The most serious charge can carry a life sentence, making these effectively espionage allegations.
Unapproved Project And Overseas Meeting
- Between late 2023 and early 2024 Robar interviewed people raising concerns and was introduced to a foreign entity, reported to be Ukraine.
- He then pursued an unconventional joint project, sought approval and funding, and eventually traveled abroad in September 2024 despite being denied.