Bruce W. MacGregor

Colonel
Bruce MacGregor, C.D.

Colonel MacGregor was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia and attended schools in several communities in Ontario, Alberta, and Nova Scotia, before obtaining a high school diploma from the Halifax Grammar School. He is a graduate of Dalhousie University (B.A., Political Science and LL.B.) and the University of Ottawa (LL.M). He has been a member of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society since 1991.

In 1990, Colonel MacGregor articled with Cox, Downie and Goodfellow in Halifax. He then practiced law for six years at MacIntosh, MacDonnell and MacDonald in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, concentrating on criminal law (as defence counsel and as a federal and municipal prosecutor). He routinely appeared before Nova Scotia’s Family Court, Provincial Court, Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. He became a partner in his firm in 1995.

In 1997, Colonel MacGregor left private practice to join the Office of the Judge Advocate General (JAG) and assumed the duties of Assistant Deputy Judge Advocate Pacific Region in Victoria, British Columbia. During this time, he advised the Maritime Pacific Commander, the Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific, and the various regional bases including Esquimalt, Comox and Chilliwack. He also prosecuted and defended at numerous courts martial. Additionally, he sailed with HMCS Regina to the Arabian Gulf providing legal advice to the ship’s Commander in support of OP AUGMENTATION in 1999.

In 2001, Colonel MacGregor was posted to the Directorate of Military Prosecutions in Ottawa where he prosecuted courts martial, represented the Minister of National Defence in appeals before the Court Martial Appeal Court, mentored junior prosecutors, represented the office in media interviews and provided policy and prosecutorial advice to the Director of Military Prosecutions.

In 2004, Colonel MacGregor was posted to the Directorate of Law Human Resources where he provided legal advice on personnel and administrative legal matters. Later that same year, he was tasked to work with the JAG Internal Review Team in order to provide a departmental response to the First Independent Review by former Chief Justice of Canada, Antonio Lamer.

In 2006, Colonel MacGregor returned to prosecutions and assumed the position of Deputy Director Military Prosecutions in Ottawa where he guided a team of regular and reserve force military prosecutors and civilian staff in charge of prosecuting persons under the Code of Service Discipline at courts martial and the Court Martial Appeal Court.

In January to July 2009, Colonel MacGregor was deployed to the Sudan as the Force Legal Advisor to the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS). There he was the sole legal advisor to the UNMIS Force Commander and his 10,000 military troops in support of the enforcement of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between North and South Sudan. For his efforts, Colonel MacGregor was awarded the United Nations Force Commanders Commendation.

Upon his return to Canada, Colonel MacGregor became the Director of Military Justice Policy supporting the Judge Advocate General’s legislative mandate to superintend the administration of Military Justice. This included the development of legislative and regulatory initiatives, and policy development related to Canada’s military justice system. After a re-organization of the Military Justice Division, Colonel MacGregor then became the Director of Military Justice Operations and then assumed the role of Director of Military Justice Strategic where he assisted in the Office of the JAG’s work with the Second Independent Review Authority (Mr. Justice Patrick LeSage).

In 2013, Colonel MacGregor was posted to the position of Assistant Deputy Judge Advocate General Operations. There he assisted the DJAG Operations in the provision of legal advice in direct support to the planning and conduct of domestic and international operations. In 2014, Colonel MacGregor was promoted to his current rank and assumed the duties of DJAG Operations.

On 20 October 2014, Colonel MacGregor was appointed by the Minister of National Defence to the position of the Director of Military Prosecutions pursuant to section 165.1 of the National Defence Act. He is is responsible for the preferring of all charges to be tried by court martial and for the conduct of all prosecutions at courts martial. The Director of Military Prosecutions also acts as counsel for the Minister in respect of appeals before the Court Martial Appeal Court of Canada and before the Supreme Court of Canada. In 2015 and in 2016, Colonel MacGregor appeared as counsel before the Supreme Court on the cases of R. v. Moriarity et al and R. v. Cawthorne et al respectively.

Colonel MacGregor is married and has two sons. He has been a committed community volunteer in various projects for over twenty years.