A veteran Canadian military police officer is pursuing legal action against the federal government and an American firearms manufacturer after being wounded by his service pistol in what he describes as a shocking safety failure.
Master Warrant Officer Jamie Deslaurier alleges the C-22 handgun — the Canadian version of the SIG Sauer P320 — discharged without any trigger pull while holstered during training on April 16, 2024, at a military range in Borden, Ontario. The unexpected discharge struck him in the foot, cutting short a military career he had planned to extend several more years.
"I was extremely angry with the fact that we procured this weapon and it's been employed in the Canadian Forces," Deslaurier told CBC News.
High-Stakes Legal Battle Over Weapon Safety
In his statement of claim, Deslaurier is seeking $4 million from SIG Sauer Inc., based in Newington, New Hampshire, and $3 million from the Department of National Defence. He argues the pistol is fundamentally defective and that federal officials knowingly proceeded with a large-scale purchase despite documented safety concerns.
The case carries significant implications. The Department of National Defence publicly claimed last year that there had been no misfire incidents or injuries during the rollout of the new guns — a statement Deslaurier's injury directly contradicts.
"At this point in time, I was just looking for accountability, some transparency and to ensure the safety of the other members." — Master Warrant Officer Jamie Deslaurier
Not the First Canadian Incident
Deslaurier's case marks the second documented incident of a Canadian soldier being shot by a weapon critics claim can fire without a trigger pull. In November 2020, a member of Canada's elite counterterrorism unit, JTF 2, was wounded in a similar incident while the unit was evaluating the pistol's suitability for operations.
That shooting prompted the Department of National Defence to pause the rollout temporarily. However, despite that incident and hundreds of disputed cases and lawsuits in the United States, the federal government decided in 2022 to proceed with a major purchase of the P320 as a replacement for Canada's World War II-era Browning 9-millimetre pistols.
U.S. Concerns Ignored?
The court filing alleges that federal officials proceeded with the full acquisition despite being aware of safety concerns documented in the United States and evidence suggesting the pistol could discharge without trigger actuation. Several U.S. law enforcement agencies have either suspended or discontinued use of the weapon.
Deslaurier said he was largely unaware of the numerous U.S. safety reports and CBC News investigations into the P320 (conducted in 2021, 2022, and 2025) until he was recovering at home. He noted that most members of his unit were simply pleased to receive new firearms and had not questioned the procurement decision.
Career-Ending Consequences
The injury has derailed Deslaurier's long-term military plans. He had intended to serve a few additional years to reach the 25-year service mark, which would have secured his full pension, and then transition to civilian law enforcement work. That path is no longer viable.
"How the federal government could have proceeded with the full purchase program — especially when several U.S. law enforcement agencies had suspended or discontinued use — is something I will never understand," he said.
The lawsuit represents an escalating challenge to Ottawa's procurement decisions and raises fresh questions about due diligence in weapons acquisition during a period when Canadian military capabilities have drawn increased scrutiny.
This article is based on reporting by CBC News.