OTTAWA, Ontario — In a rare and serious national security case, a senior non-commissioned member of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) has been arrested and formally charged in connection with a foreign interference and security of information investigation, authorities confirmed on Thursday. Master Warrant Officer Matthew Robar, who serves with the Canadian Forces Intelligence Command, now faces multiple offences under the National Defence Act and related legislation as part of a joint police operation involving military and civilian agencies.
According to an official Department of National Defence news release, the investigation — which began in 2024 — focused on the unauthorized disclosure of safeguarded information to a foreign entity. Robar was taken into custody on December 10, 2025, following a coordinated operation by the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service (CFNIS) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Federal Policing – Central Region’s Integrated National Security and Enforcement Team.
Robar, a member of the CAF’s intelligence-gathering branch, has been charged with several offences including: communicating special operational information under the Foreign Interference and Security of Information Act (FISOIA); breach of trust with safeguarded information; multiple counts of contravening storage regulations; conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline; and feigning disease.
The FISOIA, an expanded national-security law overhauling Canada’s security of information regime, was designed to address modern threats related to foreign meddling and unauthorized disclosures and was renamed and strengthened in 2024. Under this legal framework, improper handling or disclosure of classified or operational information is treated as a serious threat to national security and defence.
Charges against Robar, a highly unusual case in Canadian military circles, will be prosecuted within the military justice system. If the matter proceeds to trial, it will be heard by a court-martial, where the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Brigadier-General Vanessa Hanrahan, Canadian Forces Provost Marshal, praised the collaborative investigative effort, saying it “demonstrates the strength of joint policing efforts and what can be achieved when agencies and organizations work together toward a common goal.” Matt Peggs, Regional Commander of RCMP Federal Policing – Central Region, also highlighted the importance of timely action to protect national security.
The Department of National Defence and RCMP have declined to disclose the identity of the foreign entity allegedly involved or to provide further operational details, citing ongoing legal and security considerations. A defence lawyer for Robar has not yet publicly commented.
This development underscores Canada’s heightened sensitivity to foreign interference and its efforts to safeguard classified information amid complex geopolitical tensions. Cases involving unauthorized disclosure of national security information are uncommon and are likely to prompt close scrutiny from both defence and intelligence communities across the country.