Canadian Anti-Hate Network Chair Bernie Farber, speaking at a panel discussion in Toronto about white supremacy, questioned why Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan and the Canadian Forces leadership haven’t taken significant action even though a November 2018 report warned about the presence of such extremists.
A Military Police Criminal Intelligence Section report, only made public recently through an access to information request, says that between 2013 and 2018 there were 16 identified members of extreme hate groups in the Canadian military. It also noted that members of hate groups go to significant lengths to hide their associations, meaning the number is likely much higher, Farber’s organization noted. Another 37 engaged in racist or hateful behaviour. The report went on to state that as of November 2018, at least thirty of these individuals were still active in the CAF.
“All of the groups identified fall under the far-right spectrum of political discourse and beliefs, specifically anti-Islam and/or white supremacy,” the Nov. 29, 2018 document, obtained by Global News and the Montreal radio station 98.5 FM, pointed out.
The report noted that many hate groups emphasis firearms training and other military skills. As such, Canadian Force members are seen as important recruits for the extreme right. “Drawing on their training and deployment experience, current and former military members find that their skills are valued by these groups,” the military police report pointed out. “Further, they provide structure to these organizations, therefore, affording them the ability to gain positions of leadership.” (more...)
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