In a three-part series, the Star looks at the rise of white nationalist and right-wing extremist groups in Canada, and what authorities are doing to identify and suppress these threats. This is part 2. To read the first part, click here.OTTAWA—Canada’s top soldier frankly acknowledges there are members within the Canadian Armed Forces who harbour right-wing extremist and white supremacist beliefs.It’s obvious Gen. Jonathan Vance has given the issue much thought.“Clearly it’s in here,” Vance told the Star.Over a 40-minute interview at National Defence Headquarters, Vance repeatedly stressed that nobody holding extremist beliefs is welcome in the Canadian Forces.But despite pre-recruitment screening, despite the statements about defence ethics, and despite his vow that extremism will not be tolerated, Vance said it would be “foolish” to suggest right-wing extremists “don’t get in.”“There’s no question about it that I cannot guarantee they don’t get in,” Vance said.Read more: Part 1: Rise of right-wing extremists presents new challenge for Canadian law enforcement agenciesRight-wing extremism ‘growing concern’ in Canada, federal report says‘Nazis are not welcome here’: Edmonton protesters force right-wing extremists out of their neighbourhood“People have online personas; they associate privately and it’s unknown to the chain of command. When it is known, we act.“(But) what a lot of these folks don’t realize, (is) they may be able to find a couple of confreres among the tens of thousands of people that we have, but it’s not the norm.”As the Star reported Sunday, there has been an alarming rise of right-wing extremist and white supremacist groups active within Canada in recent years. In the United States, research into the far right suggests extremist groups have made a concerted effort to infiltrate police forces and t ...
|
