Last month, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) pressed charges against four individuals for their suspected involvement in a scheme to forcibly seize land in northern Quebec, characterized by authorities as an episode of “ideologically motivated violent extremism.” Last week, three of the accused were denied release on bail.
The individuals allegedly conspired to establish an anti-government militia, with the striking revelation that two of the four charged by the RCMP are currently serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces. While this marks the first instance of an active military member facing terrorism-related accusations, the issue of extremism within the military is not unprecedented.
Investigative Journalist Jonathan Montpetit from CBC News delves into the Canadian Armed Forces’ inconsistent history regarding extremism and the pervasive nature of this problem within the ranks over time.