The Canadian Army is now dealing with another incident of alleged hateful conduct that involves Quebec-based soldiers caught on video allegedly partying while some people at the event delivered Nazi salutes.
In a statement, Lt.-Gen. Mike Wright, the commander of the army, said the video was brought to his attention on Aug. 6, and an immediate internal investigation was launched “to determine the breadth and scope of the incident.”
Military police have also been notified, he added.
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Although the video shows several individuals, Wright said at least five of them have been identified as serving members of the Canadian Army. Those soldiers have been suspended from military duties pending an investigation by the unit.
“One individual can be seen performing drill in front of the Royal 22e Régiment flag and then consuming a substance,” Wright said in the written statement.
“At one point in the video, other individuals perform the Nazi salute. Although I have been made aware that these events happened in 2023, these members remain subject to administrative and disciplinary action that may lead to their release.”
The statement, released by the Department of National Defence on Tuesday, was light on specifics and didn’t say whether the accused soldiers were all regular or reserve force members, nor precisely how the video came to the army’s attention.
Earlier this summer, a terrorism case emerged in Quebec where two serving soldiers, a former member and a civilian who is also a former cadet instructor, were accused in an extremist, anti-government plot that allegedly involved taking over a parcel of land.
The men are accused of stockpiling an arsenal of highly restricted weapons and military equipment, including some of the latest night-vision gear. The department said none of the equipment came from its inventory.
The RCMP in July charged Simon Angers-Audet, 24, Raphaël Lagacé, 25, and Marc-Aurèle Chabot, 24, with facilitating a terrorist activity, and other offences related to the illegal storage of firearms and possession of explosives and prohibited devices.
A fourth man — Matthew Forbes, 33 — is accused of weapons offences.
DND has acknowledged that Forbes and Chabot were active members of the military at the time of their arrest on July 8.
In addition, two investigations, one internal and one by military police, are underway into a separate incident involving a now-defunct Facebook group where members of the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Duke of Edinburgh’s Own) allegedly posted hateful and inappropriate content.
“Hateful conduct and extremism have no place in the Canadian Army. It hurts our ability to recruit the best of Canada, to maintain credibility to deliver on operations, and it erodes public trust in our institution,” Wright said in his statement.
“Canadian Army members who jeopardize that trust and participate in hateful conduct will face the consequences of their actions.”
