Snowbirds pilot headed for trial amid sexual assault accusations
Accused of sexual assault, former Canadian Forces Snowbirds pilot Maj. Steven Hurlbut appears headed for trial.
Wednesday morning trial dates were supposed to be put on the record in the Barrie courthouse when a representative for Hurlbut's lawyer, Karl Toews, expressed concerns about the defence counsel's availability before the proposed late August trial dates.
The defence also noted it was not willing to waive Section 11(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which protects an accused person's liberty, security and the right to a fair trial in a reasonable timeframe.
Criminal cases in the Ontario Court of Justice are expected to be completed within 15 months under the recently introduced Jordan-compliant trial scheduling direction.
The 48-year-old Hurlbut from Alberta, who's been a pilot for more than 30 years, was charged with sexual assault against another member of the military last June around the time the Snowbirds took flight for their annual Barrie Airshow.
The Canadian Forces National Investigation Service charged Hurlbut about a week after the military said its investigation began into alleged sexual misconduct. The charge, however, is now being handled in civilian criminal court in Barrie and not within the military system.
A publication ban protects the complainant's identity.
Before the charges, Hurlbut had been a member of the Snowbirds for two years, served as a lecturer at Royal Military College, and was a fighter pilot on 36 combat missions in Syria and Iraq starting in 2014.
Hurlbut, also known on the aerial acrobatics team as Stu, was flying lead solo in the number nine jet when the Department of National Defence said, after the Barrie Airshow, Hurlbut had been removed from the team and reassigned. At the same time, the Snowbirds performed with eight aircraft.
On Thursday, the Department of National Defence confirmed to CTV News Hurlbut is no longer a member of the Snowbirds and is currently employed with 4 Operations Support Squadron at 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alberta.
The matter returns in a virtual courtroom next week to address the defence's concerns.
The allegations against the accused have not been tested in court.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
U.S. presidential historian predicts results of November elections. Here's who he says will win
An American presidential historian is predicting a Kamala Harris presidency as the outcome of the upcoming U.S. elections in November.
NDP MPs embrace distance from 'radioactive' Trudeau brand, as Singh convenes caucus in Montreal
Just days after demolishing his deal with Justin Trudeau’s Liberals, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is holding a three-day strategy session with his MPs in Montreal, where his MPs are embracing their new-found distance from what one called Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's 'radioactive' brand.
Inquiry into U.K. hospital where a nurse killed 7 babies will not review evidence against her
An inquiry into an English hospital where a neonatal nurse was convicted of murdering seven babies and trying to kill seven others began Tuesday as her supporters push to clear her name.
Buyers say they lost life savings to a Saskatchewan company selling luxury vacation condos
In 2022, Tanya Frisk-Welburn and her husband bought what they hoped would be a dream home in Mexico.
Judge reserves decision on Hoggard bail attempt as singer seeks SCOC leave to appeal
A justice with Ontario's Appeal Court has reserved her decision on whether Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard should get bail as he tries to appeal his sexual assault conviction at the country's top court.
Canadian fast food chains create value menus to win back customers
Canada’s restaurant industry is in a slump as money conscious consumers are eating out less and spending less when they do go out.
7-Eleven ordered to pay B.C. woman $907K for pothole injury
A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has ordered 7-Eleven Canada to pay a woman more than $900,000 in damages after she tripped on a pothole and broke her ankle in the parking lot of a convenience store.
Viral Olympian Raygun ranked No. 1 breaker in the world by sport's governing body
Australian breaker Rachael Gunn, the Olympian widely known as B-Girl Raygun who went viral after her performance at the Paris Games, is now ranked the No. 1 breaker in the world.
Forgotten Cheetos snack bag can have 'world-changing' impact, U.S. national park says
A U.S. national park is cautioning tourists about how a small bag of Cheetos could have an enormous impact.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
Kitchener
-
Kitchener, Ont. woman says puppy was stolen during break-in
A Kitchener, Ont. woman is pleading for the return of her puppy, an eight-month-old French Bulldog named Sanchi.
-
Traffic stop in Waterloo ends with seizure of 200+ guns
Police have seized over 200 firearms as part of a weapons investigation that began in Waterloo.
-
Three people charged with forcible confinement in connection with Guelph home invasion
On July 24 around 1:35 p.m., a man and woman were sleeping in their apartment on Woolwich Street when three people with their faces covered by bandanas entered, police said.
London
-
Sarnia dump truck driver charged following crash
Officers responded to the area of Scott Road and St. Andrew Street after a dump truck ended up in a ditch.
-
Roads around Western University remain closed amid support staff strike
The school asks that motorists who do not have a specific reason to be on or around main campus, to avoid the area. About 330 members are on strike after two days of talks with an external mediator came to an end just before Labour Day.
-
Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Rick Byers will not seek re-election
Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Rick Byers will not seek re-election.
Windsor
-
Arrests increase 38% in Glengarry neighbourhood
Windsor police say violent crime is down in the Glengarry neighbourhood after launching a police initiative last month.
-
'More stable' fall 2024 real estate market predicted: WECAR
The Windsor-Essex County Association of Realtors says the fall outlook is positive amid economic growth and interest rate reductions.
-
Wild boar jaw discovered at waterfront
Construction at the Legacy Beacon Streetcar project has unearthed the bottom jawbone of a boar.
Northern Ontario
-
Video shows tornado moving ashore in northern Ontario
A beautiful Labour Day weekend at the lake was interrupted by some extreme weather when a tornado touched down in northern Ontario.
-
Hunt widens for man who allegedly threw scalding coffee on baby
A man wanted for allegedly throwing scalding coffee on a baby in an unprovoked attack at a park in the northern Australian state of Queensland is now the subject of an international manhunt.
-
Young camper diagnosed with life-threatening Powassan virus during northern Ont. trip
A nine-year-old boy contracted an often-deadly disease during a camping trip in July in northern Ontario.
Sault Ste. Marie
-
Young camper diagnosed with Powassan virus during northern Ont. trip
A nine-year-old boy contracted an often-deadly disease during a camping trip in July in northern Ontario.
-
Video shows tornado moving ashore in northern Ontario
A beautiful Labour Day weekend at the lake was interrupted by some extreme weather when a tornado touched down in northern Ontario.
-
Dispelling misconceptions about fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
Monday marked International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Day, and experts in the field say there is a lot the public doesn’t know about the disability.
Ottawa
-
Lawsuit alleges Ottawa police wiretapped, surveilled five Black officers of Somali descent
A $2.5 million lawsuit alleges Ottawa police wiretapped and surveilled five of its own Black, Somali officers, hasn't told them why and accuses the service of being an institution "rife with racism and discrimination that over-polices the racialized communities it has pledged to protect."
-
'A lot closer than we were': Senators owner provides update on talks for new arena at LeBreton Flats
Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer admits there's been "more hurdles than meets the eyes" in talks to build a new arena at LeBreton Flats, with the clock ticking towards the deadline to finalize a deal.
-
O-Train service resumes after 'technical issue with cameras'
The O-Train was out of service for more than an hour Tuesday morning "due to a technical issue with cameras on the trains," according to OC Transpo. Full train service resumed just after 8 a.m.
Toronto
-
Operators of Revue Cinema reach new five-year deal with owners
The group which runs the historical Revue Cinema in Roncesvalles Village will be sticking around to manage the theatre after reaching a new agreement with the owners.
-
4 people defrauded of thousands of dollars in Guelph taxi fare scam: police
Police in Guelph are investigating after four people were defrauded of thousands of dollars in a fake taxi scam involving a child.
-
More than one million people visited an Ontario food bank in the last year, data shows
More than a million people living in Ontario visited a food bank in the last year as food prices soared across the country, according to new data released by a network of hunger-relief organizations.
Montreal
-
Nearly half of Canadians want federal election after NDP-Liberal agreement ends, poll suggests
Following the announcement of the end of the NDP-Liberal confidence and supply agreement, a new national survey reveals that 47 per cent of Canadians would support calling a federal election to be called, while only 34 per cent would prefer not to.
-
CAQ still hasn't fulfilled promise to create 37,000 daycare spots
Francois Legault's government is far from its commitment to create 37,000 subsidized daycare spaces by March of next year.
-
NDP MPs embrace distance from 'radioactive' Trudeau brand, as Singh convenes caucus in Montreal
Just days after demolishing his deal with Justin Trudeau’s Liberals, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is holding a three-day strategy session with his MPs in Montreal, where his MPs are embracing their new-found distance from what one called Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's 'radioactive' brand.
Atlantic
-
Frost Advisories issued in New Brunswick; Tropical Storm Francine update
Some parts of New Brunswick have Frost Advisories in effect.
-
Elsipogtog First Nation man dead after N.B. RCMP shooting, SiRT investigating
An investigation is underway after a man was shot and killed by RCMP in Elsipogtog First Nation, N.B.
-
Newfoundland and Labrador monitoring rise in whooping cough cases: medical officer
Newfoundland and Labrador's chief medical officer is monitoring the rise of whooping cough infections across the province as cases of the highly contagious disease continue to grow across Canada.
Winnipeg
-
As warming threatens polar bear tourism, a Canadian town adapts and thrives
Change has broken, remade and continues to reshape this remote town where tundra meets forest on the shore of Hudson Bay.
-
‘It’s a mistake’: Downtown housing complex slated for demolition
Winnipeg's Centre Village social housing complex will face the wrecking ball less than 15 years after it was built.
-
'Stagnant' weather pattern doing little to break up wildfire smoke in Manitoba
Warm temperatures and light winds won't do much to alleviate wildfire smoke Tuesday in a portion of Manitoba, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) said.
Calgary
-
Calgary eatery named among best new restaurants in Canada
A Calgary restaurant has been nominated as one of the best new dining spots in Canada.
-
165 hectares of trees will be cut down in Banff National Park
Parks Canada says work is expected to begin later this fall on two projects aimed at mitigating wildfire risk in Banff National Park.
-
Calgary's water use drops, residents able to collect rainwater
Some overnight rain in Calgary brought relief to residents worried about their gardens and lawns as well as city officials concerned about the strain on the city's water system.
Edmonton
-
Edmonton LRT train involved in crash after vehicle drives onto tracks: ETS
No injuries were reported after a collision between an LRT and a vehicle on Tuesday morning.
-
Oilers, Canucks alumni to play charity game in Fort McMurray
Former Edmonton Oiler Craig MacTavish will be returning to the ice for a charity game against Vancouver Canucks alumni in Fort McMurray in October.
-
Canadian court approves Red Lobster restructuring plan, company will exit bankruptcy
A Canadian court has cleared the reorganization plan of Red Lobster that will see the seafood chain exit bankruptcy.
Regina
-
Drug toxicity deaths in Sask. seemingly on course to match record set in 2023
Saskatchewan's overdose crisis is tragically on par with last year's record breaking total, with more than 200 people having lost their lives to accidental overdoses in the first seven months of the year.
-
Buyers say they lost life savings to a Saskatchewan company selling luxury vacation condos
In 2022, Tanya Frisk-Welburn and her husband bought what they hoped would be a dream home in Mexico.
-
Sask. First Nations celebrate 150th anniversary of Treaty 4 signing
For the next week, hundreds of people from many First Nations in Saskatchewan will be coming together for the 150th anniversary of the signing of Treaty 4.
Saskatoon
-
Buyers say they lost life savings to a Saskatchewan company selling luxury vacation condos
In 2022, Tanya Frisk-Welburn and her husband bought what they hoped would be a dream home in Mexico.
-
Sask. education minister responds to incident of student being lit on fire
Saskatchewan's Education minister says the incident at a Saskatoon school where a student was set on fire is "horrible," but could have been worse.
-
Back to his roots, Saskatchewan hockey player recognized for grassroots contributions
From Gordie Howe to Hayley Wickenheiser and everyone in between, Saskatchewan has produced some hockey greats over the years.
Vancouver
-
7-Eleven ordered to pay B.C. woman $907K for pothole injury
A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has ordered 7-Eleven Canada to pay a woman more than $900,000 in damages after she tripped on a pothole and broke her ankle in the parking lot of a convenience store.
-
22-year-old suffered life-threatening injuries in Surrey park assault, RCMP say
Police in Surrey are investigating after an assault in a park sent two young men to hospital – one of them with life-threatening injuries – over the weekend.
-
B.C.'s second-largest city requesting charter to expand local powers
The second-largest city in British Columbia will ask the provincial government for a municipal charter – which would dramatically expand local powers – following a unanimous city council vote Monday.
Vancouver Island
-
7-Eleven ordered to pay B.C. woman $907K for pothole injury
A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has ordered 7-Eleven Canada to pay a woman more than $900,000 in damages after she tripped on a pothole and broke her ankle in the parking lot of a convenience store.
-
2 hospitalized, suspects sought after 'extreme case of road rage' in B.C.: RCMP
Mounties in B.C.'s Lower Mainland are searching for two people allegedly responsible for a road rage incident that sent a couple to hospital with serious injuries, saying the suspects could be in another province.
-
BC United sources leak 'extremism' file on B.C. Conservative director
Sources in the Official Opposition BC United party have leaked a file on the "extremism" of the B.C. Conservatives' executive director, Angelo Isidorou, less than two weeks after the parties' leaders announced a deal to work together.
