OTTAWA -- A Canadian soldier's suicide note was withheld from his parents for 14 months by military police in what Cpl. Stuart Langridge's stepfather calls a calculated deception.

Shaun Fynes, in his second day of testimony before a public inquiry, says he believes his son's last communication was kept quiet to protect the Canadian military.

"My son had (post traumatic stress disorder), he was in pain and he couldn't take it anymore," Fynes testified Thursday. "That was the truth of that note and that was part of the cover-up."

The Canadian Forces National Investigative Service says it held on to the note because it was evidence in an ongoing investigation.

It acknowledges 14 months does not represent "expeditious" handling of the note, but has never explained why it needed to keep it beyond the first few days of the investigation.

"I am left to conclude it was not inept and it was a very calculated deception designed to protect the uniform from embarrassment," Fynes said.

The family has never received a formal apology regarding the handwritten note, although the military has conceded withholding it was wrong.

Fynes says when the family did finally receive the note, it was a photocopy, and they had to demand the original.

The Military Police Complaints Commission is examining whether a biased investigation was conducted into Langridge's March 2008 death.

At one point, as the family searched for answers, the military police investigators refused to meet with Fynes because of the anticipation of legal action.

"It speaks to an attempt to protect the image and the brand," he said. "It doesn't speak to police work -- or my understanding of police work, or the independence of police work to conduct a fair an impartial investigation."

Justice Department lawyer Elizabeth Richards challenged the notion that military covered up the suicide in order to avoid embarrassment, pointing to its role in catching serial killer Russell Williams, a former air force colonel.

"So you (agree) there are incidents and circumstances where military police do investigate senior leadership within the Canadian Forces and do lay charges?" she asked.

"And you're aware the National Investigative Service has been involved in (investigating) alleged drug use by members of the Canadian Forces?"

"I'd certainly hope so," Fynes answered.

"And that's something in fact you wanted investigated, and you'd agree with me that's something that might be embarrassing," Richards continued.

Langridge struggled with alcohol and drug addiction during the last few years of his life following tours of duty in Bosnia and Afghanistan.

He had as many as six previous suicide attempts.

The military disputes the claim the 28-year-old veteran suffered from post traumatic stress and blames his suicide on his addictions and turmoil in personal life.

Richards pointed to medical records from several institutions which stated that Langridge suffered to alcohol-induced mood disorder, as well as alcohol and cocaine dependency.

"I suggest to you that in all the medical records, the medical professionals considered that the substance abuse was the illness," she said.

She also noted one report that said Langridge, while in civilian rehab, smuggled cocaine into the hospital.

Prior to hanging himself in a barracks room, Langridge had spent 30 days in a civilian hospital, but was persuaded to return to the Edmonton garrison upon completion of his stay.

Fynes said his son was expecting to be admitted to a military hospital or treatment program, but instead found himself placed in barracks and treated as a "defaulter."

Langridge was placed on restrictions, which included menial tasks, such as shovelling snow.

Fynes said it "humiliated" the young man before his regiment -- something that ultimately drove him to take his life.

The family demanded military police conduct a criminal negligence investigation, which did not happen.