Front Burner The Canadian army's long history of extremism
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Aug 11, 2025 Jonathan Montpetit, a Senior Investigative Journalist with CBC News, delves into the unsettling issue of extremism in the Canadian Armed Forces. He discusses the recent RCMP charges involving military members plotting an anti-government militia, marking a troubling trend. The conversation uncovers historical instances of far-right extremism in the military, particularly the Somalia Affair, and the deep-rooted issues of racism and accountability. Montpetit highlights the ongoing challenge of fostering diversity in a still-traditional military culture, stressing the urgent need for reform.
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Active Soldiers Among The Accused
- Two of the four accused in the Quebec militia plot were active Canadian Armed Forces members.
- One faces terrorism-related charges while another faces weapons charges and was granted bail.
Weapons Cache Seized In January 2024
- Police seized the large weapons and explosives cache in January 2024 during the investigation.
- Authorities described it as the largest weapons cache ever seized in a terrorism-related Canadian case.
New Term: Ideologically Motivated Extremism
- Law enforcement now uses "ideologically motivated violent extremism" to capture mixed and evolving extremist beliefs.
- The term signals a shift away from focusing exclusively on religiously motivated attacks.