The Canadian military has relocated some staff at its East Coast intelligence centre following the arrest of a junior naval officer accused of spying for Russia.

The shuffle involves intelligence staff at the highly-secure Trinity establishment at Canadian Forces Base Stadacona in Halifax. They are now posted at the nearby Shearwater air base in Dartmouth.

A senior military source has told CTV News the Trinity building is now being swept for surveillance bugs and computer viruses.

"As part of a normal and prudent business contingency plan, personnel belonging to elements of HMCS Trinity have been relocated to 12 Wing Shearwater for an undetermined time period as a security precaution," the Defence Department said in a statement.

Sub.-Lt. Jeffrey Delisle, 40, charged last week with leaking information to a "foreign entity" and breach of trust, was posted to Trinity last August.

Sources have told CTV News that Delisle allegedly leaked information to Russia. He is also charged under the Criminal Code with a breach of trust by a public officer.

Lawyer Cameron MacKeen told a brief court proceeding Monday that he could no longer represent Delisle. He didn't offer a reason for withdrawing from the case.

Delisle's next court appearance has been scheduled for Feb. 28, when a date for a bail hearing will be set.