Former military ombudsman Gary Walbourne has dropped a bombshell in testimony before the Commons defence committee.

Walbourne declared that on March 1, 2018, he brought "evidence" of sexual misconduct against Gen. Jonathan Vance to Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan.

According to Walbourne, Sajjan refused to look at the evidence against Vance, who was then chief of the defence staff.

Walbourne did not detail the nature of this evidence but said that it was substantiated and it was on paper.

He also said that he promised confidentiality to the complainant, which is why he went to the minister "for advice".

"I thought that this was of enough magnitude that it should have been brought to his attention," Walbourne said. "That's what I did."

He also testified that Sajjan told him several years ago that he had served with Vance in Afghanistan and that they were "battle buddies".

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Military police are investigating Vance in connection with allegations of appropriate behaviour by two female members of the Canadian Armed Forces, according to Global News.

One of them, Maj. Kellie Brennan, went public in an interview with journalist Mercedes Stephenson on The West Block.

Vance has denied the allegations.

Earlier this year, Vance was replaced by Adm. Art McDonald as chief of the defence staff. Last month, McDonald stepped aside pending an investigation into his conduct.