The number of white supremacists and other violent extremists in the Canadian military is growing “at a worrying rate,” according to a report released Monday that accuses the command of not doing enough to combat the trend.
“The reality is that widespread racism exists within our institution and that we must eliminate it,” Defense Minister Anita Anand said at a press conference.
The report also points to the spread of Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, racism against black and indigenous people, as well as sexism and homophobia among the Canadian military.
The failure of military authorities to combat this extremism “negatively affects operational capabilities, undermines the well-being (of soldiers) and endangers the security of Canada”, indicate its authors.
Anita Anand said a total of 326.5 million Canadian dollars (238 million euros) had been allocated in the two previous federal budgets to “culture change in the military”.
But followers of these extremist ideologies are hiding better and better, for example by encrypting their communications or going through the darknet, the report notes, while efforts to flush them out remain “isolated and ineffective.”
In addition, many recommendations for 20 years in this area have remained a dead letter, “poorly implemented, buried or even abandoned”, notes Sandra Perron, who co-signed the report.
“As soon as we pay attention to them (these groups) change their names, symbols,” warned the Chief of Staff, General Wayne Eyre, calling for them to remain “very vigilant and informed” to be able to spot them.