Major General Dany Fortin has had his plea to be reinstated as the head of Canada’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution campaign denied.

A Federal Court Justice ruled the federal government does not have to give Fortin his job back.

His lawyers tried to argue their client was removed back in May for purely political reasons while the lawyers representing the government say there already is a forum for him to make his case–that being as a formal complaint with the military.

Justice Ann Marie McDonald said she won’t offer her opinion on whether Fortin should be reinstated until he goes through the normal avenues of the grievance system.

Fortin was charged with one count of sexual assault in August in Quebec. He has denied all allegations.

Gen. Krista Brodie has since taken over as head of the vaccine distribution task force.